Introduction
The mandatory implementation of environmental enrichment (EE) in Brazilian pig farms, established by MAPA Normative Instruction No. 113, has increased the demand for technical guidance on the topic. Therefore, we aimed to examine how EE is currently portrayed in technical communication materials directed at swine producers.

Methods
We conducted gray literature searches using Google and four widely accessed online magazines for swine producers, with the descriptors “environmental enrichment” and “swine*”. We identified 93 multimedia items and analyzed the stated motivations for EE adoption, the types of EE presented, the reported effects on animal welfare, and the representation of EE in images.

Results
The promotion of animal welfare was cited as the primary motivation for EE implementation (82%). The most frequently presented types of EE were objects (51%) and substrates (35%), followed by sensory (28%), nutritional (19%), physical (9%), social (6%), and cognitive (3%) forms. Reported outcomes focused mainly on behavioral changes (51%), along with effects on injury incidence (29%), productive performance (28%), disease occurrence (4%), and other aspects (3%). The most emphasized benefits included the stimulation of species-typical behaviors (48%), stress reduction (33%), improved productive performance (25%), and reductions in stereotypies (22%), agonistic interactions (22%), and injuries (17%). However, 40% of the images analyzed contained no representation of EE.

Conclusions
Although substrates are recognized as the gold standard for environmental enrichment, this is not consistently reflected in producer-oriented materials. The lack of clear and contextualized images further limits practical guidance. Despite regulatory progress and broader dissemination of the topic, better alignment among technical communication, legislation, and scientific evidence is needed to effectively improve animal welfare.

The objective of the present study was to understand how chromatic stimuli can modulate the locomotor and exploratory responses of experienced animals, considering the dichromatic vision of cattle and its impact on welfare. The research was conducted at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southern Minas Gerais, Muzambinho Campus, Brazil. Six lactating Holstein cows were used, tested individually and in groups, in familiar (FA) and unfamiliar (UA) locations. The mats, made of nonwoven fabric, featured interlaced stripes of lilac and red, lilac and black, and lilac and yellow. The observed behavioral responses included crossing, reluctant crossing, exploration, retreat, and attempts to jump, analyzed using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and Nemenyi tests. In general, adult cows showed confidence when crossing the obstacles, maintaining a high likelihood of crossing the areas regardless of color or environment. However, a differentiated behavior was observed in response to the lilac–yellow mat, which resulted in a higher probability of reluctant crossings when the cows were in groups (74.33% in FA and 59.99% in UA), whereas individual assessments showed a predominance of non-reluctant crossings. This collective hesitation suggests that the contrast between yellow, which is easily perceived by cattle, and lilac, which has low distinction, creates a depth illusion that modulates spatial perception, particularly under social influence. It is concluded that although adult cows exhibit greater familiarity and lower sensitivity to visual stimuli, the lilac–yellow pattern remains capable of altering behavior, reinforcing that even experienced animals respond to visual contrasts and group dynamics in management situations.

This study aimed to evaluate the scratching behavior of dairy heifers in agrivoltaic system with different configuration in a tropical climate. The experiment was conducted between July and August 2025, during 12 consecutive days at FMVZ/Unesp – Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. The scratching behaviours on photovoltaic panel structures of 21 dairy heifers (550 ± 55 days old; 247 ± 37 kg, mean ± SD) were registered continuously from 9h to 16h. In a crossover design, the heifers were divided into three groups (seven heifers/group). The agrivoltaic systems were composed of 72 panels (2.28 × 1.14 m), divided into six paddocks in the center of each paddock, with east–west orientation and facing north, at a fixed height of 2.30 m. In three paddocks, 36 panels (12 panels/paddock) were installed in a vertical position (AGRIver), with panel structures composed of 5 poles in each paddock, whereas in the other three paddocks, 36 panels (12 panels/paddock) were installed in a horizontal position (AGRIhor), with panel structures composed of 10 poles in each paddock. The data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model (Poisson family), considering agrivoltaic system and hours as fixed effects, with date and groups as a random effect. The heifers were 33% more likely (p=0.01) to engage in scratching behavior in AGRIhor (193 events) than AGRIver (131 events). There was no effect (p>0.05) of the hours of evaluation within agrivoltaic system. Regardless of agrivoltaic system, the highest frequency (p=0.002) of scratching behavior occurred between 11h-11:59h (81 events). In conclusion, the configuration of the agrivoltaic systems influenced the heifers’ scratching behavior. The horizontal configuration, which had more poles than the vertical configuration, provided more space and may have contributed to the heifers engaging in more scratching behavior.

Livestock advisors play an essential role in the decision-making process on dairy farms. Yet, their attitudes and recommendations are shaped by factors such as gender, age, culture, politics, and nationality. We explored how gender may influence Brazilian livestock advisors' recommendations regarding practices to improve dairy cattle welfare. For this, we analysed the responses to one open-ended question from an online questionnaire: “What management practices do you recommend to farmers to promote animal welfare?” The responses were categorised into five themes related to welfare principles (nutrition, environment, animal health, behaviour, and other). The number of participants who mentioned each theme was counted, and the results were presented in percentages. The sample (n=219) had a balanced gender distribution (males=48% and females=51%), and participants were predominantly aged between 26 and 35 years old (47.9%). In general, reported management practices were mainly related to animal nutrition (20%) and environmental aspects (28%), including thermal comfort, hygiene, features of facilities, and animal stocking density. Animal health (13%), animal behaviour (9%), and other aspects (13%) were less mentioned. Women cited more frequent practices that promote natural behaviour (65%), followed by animal health (57%), environmental aspects (52%), and animal nutrition (51%). Also, 51% cited other welfare principles, like positive human–animal relationships (83%), staff training (59%), non-aversive handling (54%), and genetic improvement (50%). In contrast, men’s recommendations focused on animal nutrition (49%), environmental management (47%), animal health (43%), and natural behaviour (35%). Other welfare principles cited by men were genetic improvement (50%), non-aversive handling (46%), staff training (41%), and positive human–animal relationships (17%). In conclusion, gender seems to influence how livestock advisors recommend practices to improve animal welfare. Both women and men acknowledged all welfare dimensions, but women placed greater emphasis on animal health, natural living, and positive emotional states, while men focused more on biological functioning.

This case study aimed to discuss agrivoltaic systems, advocating that this approach can serve as a tool for the sustainable intensification of dairy farming. Solar power plants generally require extensive land areas and are positioned close to the ground surface, preventing the land from being used for other productive activities. In contrast, installing photovoltaic panels on rooftops or carports can be considered a zero-space-occupying strategy, as they optimize land use by fulfilling dual functions. This concept can be extended to agriculture, leading to increasing interest in agrivoltaic systems (AVSs). AVSs represent an innovative approach that integrates photovoltaic energy generation with crop and/or livestock production in the same area. In our system, a total of 72 photovoltaic panels were installed, covering 144 m² and distributed across six paddocks (24 m²/paddock) to provide shade for grazing dairy cows. In the first 30 days of operation (26th October - 26th November/2025), the AVS generated 4,860 kWh of energy, which corresponds to 0.55 t of CO₂ emissions avoided, directly contributing to lowering the carbon footprint of milk production. Agrivoltaic systems optimize land use, enhance sustainable intensification, and have broad social acceptance. In dairy farming, installing photovoltaic panels in pasture areas not only produces clean energy by intercepting part of the solar radiation but may also improve the thermal environment for cows, offering behavioral, productivity, and welfare benefits. These findings support agrivoltaic systems as a promising strategy to improve the sustainability, resilience, and economic viability of dairy production systems, particularly in tropical regions increasingly affected by climate change.

Beef-on-dairy (BoD) calves are increasingly common on dairy farms, yet little is known about their behavior or how social housing with purebred dairy calves may influence behavioral responses. This study evaluated the effects of breed composition (Holstein vs. BoD [Angus × Holstein]) and pair composition on behavior and behavioral responses in standardized tests. In Study 1 (n = 26; 18 Holstein, 8 BoD), calves were observed using scan sampling (5 d/wk) for behaviors including exploration, feeding, play, and abnormal oral behavior. A food neophobia test was conducted at 50 d of age. In Study 2 (n = 62; 37 Holstein, 25 BoD), calves were housed in Holstein, mixed, or BoD pairs. Behavioral observations were conducted weekly for 1 h around milk meals. Calves also underwent behavioral tests: food neophobia (19 ± 2 and 48 ± 2 d), novel object (16 ± 3 and 41 ± 2 d), novel human approach (65 ± 3 d), and regrouping (79 ± 2 d). Breed composition affected exploration (P<0.01) and feeding (P<0.01) behaviors: Holsteins explored more, whereas BoD calves performed more feeding behaviors. In the novel food test, Holsteins interacted less (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.07–0.92; P=0.03), took longer to touch (P=0.04), and consumed less novel food than BoD calves (Holstein: 2.17 ± 0.96 g; BoD: 6.55 ± 1.89 g; P=0.03), while in the novel object test, they interacted more frequently (P=0.01), with similar latencies. Pair composition also affected calf behavior, particularly in Holstein calves housed with BoD peers. These calves showed increased feeding behavior (P < 0.001), greater abnormal oral behaviors (P < 0.01), and longer latencies to approach an unfamiliar human compared with Holstein calves housed in homogeneous pairs. Overall, breed composition and pair composition shaped preweaning calf behavior, with mixed housing positively influencing feeding behavior but negatively affecting oral behaviors.

Recognizing the consciousness and emotions of animals fundamentally shifts the way we perceive them. Despite this understanding, many common agricultural practices serve as mechanisms that actively obscure animal suffering. This normalization of actions that induce pain, risk, or profound stress allows the underlying discomfort to become invisible. Agricultural fairs are central events for livestock farming, primarily functioning as showcases for superior animal genetics. Drawing from qualitative, ethnographic fieldwork conducted during visits to three agricultural fairs in Brazil and one in Colombia, this study aimed to critically examine these venues as complex settings where the technical implementation of farm animal welfare often collides with tradition, spectacle, and economic valuation. The analysis focuses on Angus cattle. Observations documented the environmental conditions to which animals were subjected, as well as the embodied practices and human–animal interactions during judging sections. Several constraints to animal welfare were identified, such as (1) the presence of elevated noise levels, (2) constant artificial illumination, (3) limited access to feed and water, and, occasionally, (4) a lack of adequate shelter within the holding pens. Observations also highlighted conditions that illustrate a complex dynamic of control and dominance in human–animal relationships: (5) animals were managed using nose rings, and, notably, (6) a striking or 'slap' was even used to identify the winning specimen during judging events. A particularly concerning finding was the (7) exhibition and judgment of late-term pregnant cows or heifers. This practice sometimes results in cows giving birth prematurely or under highly unsuitable, public conditions. The intense natural event of a birth is thus co-opted into the spectacle, normalizing an unacceptable level of risk and distress for animals. When considered alongside additional, unexamined constraints, agricultural fairs emerge as socio-cultural spaces where embodied human authority and spectacle are normalized at the expense of animal welfare.

The rational management of young animals often involves novel situations that may cause reluctance and stress, making it essential to understand how visual stimuli influence their behavioral responses. The present study evaluated the reaction of dairy calves aged 0 to 6 months to colored mats placed at transition points between areas, considering different environments and social contexts. The research was conducted at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southern Minas Gerais, Muzambinho Campus, Brazil. Six Holstein calves raised in an intensive system were used, assessed both individually and in groups, in familiar (FA) and unfamiliar (UA) locations. The mats were made with horizontal interlaced stripes in lilac and red, lilac and black, and lilac and yellow, in addition to a control condition without mats. Behavioral responses were recorded using an ethogram, including the behaviors crossing, reluctant crossing, exploration, retreat, and attempt to jump, based on direct observation. Statistical analysis was performed using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and Nemenyi tests. The calves showed high sensitivity to visual stimuli, with a predominance of the “reluctant crossing” behavior, even in the absence of mats (66.67% in FA). The yellow–lilac mat elicited the highest frequency of this behavior (100% in group and 94.44% individual in FA), followed by the red–lilac (70.06%) and black–lilac (58.69%) mats. The red–lilac and black–lilac combinations also induced exploratory and retreat behaviors, especially under individual conditions in UA, suggesting perception of depth and uncertainty in response to contrasts. The presence of conspecifics significantly increased the likelihood of crossing, highlighting the gregarious effect. It is concluded that young calves display more cautious and exploratory responses to contrasting visual stimuli and that visual and social factors should be considered in management practices to promote safety and animal welfare.

Introduction: Preslaughter management represents a critical period for cattle welfare, as animals are subjected to multiple stressors over time. Despite long-standing attention to handling practices, the welfare impact of preslaughter conditions has rarely been quantified in a way that integrates both the intensity and duration of stress exposure.

Methods: The Welfare Footprint Framework was applied to estimate welfare impacts across the main preslaughter stages—unloading, lairage, handling/movement, and restraint—under commercial conditions in tropical and subtropical South American regions. It combined estimates of duration and severity of stressful circumstances to identify which phases and stressors contributed most to cumulative welfare burden and evaluate potential mitigation strategies. Parameterization represented typical high-throughput operations. Climate data were analyzed from 636 beef-producing locations across Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Results: In well-managed operations, heat stress contributed 19-33% of an individual time in moderate-to-intense pain and discomfort. Under moderate heat stress, hunger, physical exhaustion, thirst and fear accounted respectively for 30-32%, 15-16%, 7-13%, and 23-24% of welfare impacts, with their relative contribution decreasing in scenarios of extreme heat. In such cases, heat stress became the main harm experienced, with a welfare impact similar to severe contusions when present (24-25%). Lairage dominated cumulative welfare impacts across all scenarios: 96-97% of moderate-to-intense and 87-90% of intense impacts. Handling stages were associated with shorter but more severe distress per unit of time, given the potential use of electric prods and greater risk of contusions.

Conclusions: Lairage management emerged as a primary leverage point for welfare improvement in tropical and subtropical systems. Reducing lairage duration can substantially lower cumulative discomfort. Ensuring water access, limiting density, improving ventilation and shading are also critical to reduce the impact of heat stress. Quantifying welfare impacts, such as time in negative states of varying intensities, can guide targeted welfare improvements in commercial slaughter operations.

In this study, we evaluate the influence of an agrivoltaic system on the thermal comfort of dairy heifers in a tropical climate. The research was conducted between July and August 2025 in south-eastern Brazil. During 12 consecutive days, two pasture systems were assessed: an open pasture system (OPS) and an agrivoltaic system (AGV). In the AGV, 36 photovoltaic panels were arranged across three paddocks (12 panels/ paddock). Microclimate variables such as air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), black globe temperature (BGT), and wind speed (WS) were assessed by sets of autonomous sensors. In the OPS, a set of sensors were installed at the center of the paddock, and in the AGV, a set of sensors were installed in full sun and the shaded areas beneath the panels. With these data, we calculated the black globe–humidity index (BGHI) and radiant thermal load (RTL). All analyses were performed in R using Generalized Mixed Models, with days and hours included as random effects. All microclimatic variables were lower (p<0.001) in the AGV (AT: 22.1 ± 0.9; BGT: 24.4 ± 1.8; WS: 1.4 ± 0.09) compared with the OPS (AT: 23.01 ± 0.9; BGT: 28.8 ± 1.2; WS: 1.6 ± 0.1), except for RH (AGV: 50.4 ± 3.9; OPS: 48.7 ± 3.3). Additionally, the lowest mean (± SE) values of bioclimatic indicators were recorded in the AGV (BGHI: 70.1 ± 0.8; RTL: 487.2 ± 7.4) than in the OPS (BGHI: 74.6 ± 0.9; RTL: 574.2 ± 8.1). In the OPS, BGHI exceeded the heat-stress threshold for cattle (>74 units) during 62% of measurements, indicating a challenging thermal environment. In conclusion, the agrivoltaic system provided a more comfortable thermal environment for pasture-based dairy production compared with the open pasture system, demonstrating its potential to mitigate heat stress in tropical climates.