UCD & the European Union Reference Centre for Animal Welfare Ruminants & Equines
The UCD School of Veterinary Medicine is a partner in the European Union Reference Centre for Animal Welfare (EURCAW) Ruminants & Equines. The role of the EURCAWs is to support the Competent Authorities in EU member states with the implementation of current regulations on animal welfare. They provide scientific and technical expertise on the development and application of animal welfare indicators and methods of assessment of animal welfare to competent authorities and policy workers in animal welfare.
The European Commission has designated four European Union Reference Centres for Animal Welfare:
- EURCAW Pigs (established 2018)
- EURCAW Poultry and other Small Farmed Animals (established 2020)
- EURCAW Ruminants & Equines (established 2021)
- EURCAW Aquatic Animals (designated 17 January 2024)
EURCAW Ruminants & Equines covers a range of farm animal species, including those used for dairy production (cows, goats, sheep, buffaloes), the production of meat by cattle, sheep, goats, deer and horses, and ruminants and equines kept for other purposes.
The activities of the EURCAW Ruminants & Equines are set out in a work programme in consultation with the European Commission. To date, the welfare topics have included:
- the frequency and quantity of milk feeding to dairy calves
- structural features of partitions between individually housed calves
- environmental enrichment (across ruminant and equine species)
The current work programme (2023-2024) is preparing scientific reviews on stockpersonship in ruminants and equines, confinement and restriction of movement and social contact in horses, and factsheets on outcomes of painful and stressful procedures and fitness for transport.
Other activities include:
- ‘Questions to EURCAW,’ a service provided to Competent Authorities
- ‘inspector@work,’ a news feature on the experience of official inspectors in EU Member States with implementing animal welfare regulations
- Quarterly newsletters
- Networking events with Competent Authorities, their supporting bodies, and National Reference Centres for Animal Welfare
To find out more about the work of EURCAW Ruminants & Equines, visit the website (opens in a new window)https://www.eurcaw-ruminants-equines.eu/ or follow them on X (formerly Twitter) (opens in a new window)https://twitter.com/eurcaw_re
Photo: © Isabelle Veissier INRAE