Chevillon, P.

Gebska, M.

Marahrens, M.A.

Messori, S.

Mounaix, B.

Ouweltjes, W.

Pedernera, C.

Roest, K., de

Sossidou, E.

Velarde, A.

Wageningen Yield 

Animal welfare assessments in Control Posts  
Cecilia Pedernera1, Antonio Velarde1, Wijbrand Ouweltjes2, Stefano Messori3, Beatrice 
Mounaix4, Patrick Chevilllon5, Michael Marahrens6, Evangelia Sossidou 7, Monika Gębska8, Kees 
de Roest9  
1IRTA Animal Welfare Subprogram, E-17121, Monells, Spain  
2Wageningen UR Livestock Research, P.O. Box 65 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands  
3Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 
64100 Teramo, Italy  
4Institut de l’Elevage, Service Santé et Bien-être des Ruminants 35652 Le Rheu Cedex, France  
5IFIP ’Institut du Porc’, 3-5 rue Lespagnol - 75020 Paris, France  
6FLI Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Doernbergstr. 25-27, D-29223 Celle, 
Germany  
7Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DEMETER, Research Institute - NAGREF, 57001, Thermi-
Thessaloniki, Greece  
8 Warsaw University of Life Sciences, ul. Nowoursynowska 166; 02-781 Warszawa, Poland  
9Research Centre on Animal Production - CRPA, 42121, Reggio Emilia, Italy  
The main objective of the project “Renovation to promote High Quality control posts in the 
European Union- SANCO/2010/D5/CRPA/SI2.578062” was the renovation of Control Posts 
(CPs) and the development of protocols to assess the effects on cattle and pig welfare at the 
renovated CPs. Welfare Quality® protocols for fattening cattle and pigs on farm and at slaughter 
have been adapted to be used to assess the effects of renovation of CPs and to explore possibilities 
to include animal based parameters in a certification scheme. Animals were assessed on arrival at 
the CP after long journey  
 
transports, during unloading, one hour after arrival, one hour before departure and during 
reloading. Moreover, resource based indicators were assessed for overall welfare assessment. A 
total of 84 cattle and 23 pig transports were assessed in CPs in five countries (France, Germany, 
Italy, Poland and Spain). Assessments were performed by researchers and official veterinarians. 
All had been trained in the animal welfare protocols prior to performing the assessments. A 
training course lasted two days and included both theoretical and practical training sessions. CP 
renovations included ramp improvement for unloading and loading animals; placement and 
improvement of drinking bowls and feeding troughs in resting pens; roof insulation; improvement 
and installation of ventilation systems and installation of mobile gates enabling the formation of 
animal groups as required. The animal welfare assessments have proven to be feasible and both 
protocols were effective in the detection of the effects of the CP renovations on animal welfare.  
 
Figure1 Welfare criteria used for assessment at the CP  
 
 


Animal welfare assessments in Control Posts

de Roest, K.

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Animal welfare assessments in Control Posts

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