In Italy, the consumption of pork meat is increasing, despite consumers’ attitudes being addressed toward a greater sensitivity about animal welfare and its link with safe food. Considering the relatively high animal welfare standards and the divergence in public interest in farm animal welfare and ethical issues, the objective of this study—in continuation of our previous paper relating to consumer behavior and preferences in welfare-friendly pork breeding—was to investigate habits of pork consumers regarding pig welfare, principally evaluating their willingness to pay (WTP) a higher price for pork obtained using raising techniques with an approach based on animal welfare. An ad hoc questionnaire-based survey was submitted to consumers (n = 404) in Messina province, Italy. Results suggest that 47% of consumers were willing to pay an additional price for pork from farms that apply specific animal welfare standards. Positive correlations were between WTP and farming techniques (p = 0.001), organic farming methods (p = 0.001), and farms in which animal welfare is taken care of and guaranteed (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that consumers intend to pay a higher price for pork, like other animal products obtained using animal-friendly raising techniques. The sensitivity to the animal welfare of a single human being may influence consumers’ attitudes toward pork consumption.

This study investigates consumer behavior and interest in “welfare-friendly” forms of pork production, considering the growing presence of animal welfare-focused breeding practices. The aim is to outline the typical profile of pork consumers and identify the key attributes influencing their purchasing decisions. A survey was conducted on a sample of 286 individuals after excluding those who only consumed beef and/or poultry or identified as vegetarians/vegans. Regression coefficients (b), 95% Confidence Intervals (95% C.I.), and p-values were reported for univariate and multivariate models. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05 (indicated in bold). The findings indicate that younger participants show greater sensitivity towards consuming meat raised using welfare-friendly methods, raising considerations about the age composition of the sample. The research’s originality lies in evaluating consumer interest in pork raised with animal welfare-respecting techniques. The use of appropriate statistical tools, such as multivariate and multilayer models, allows effective solutions for multidimensional hypothesis testing problems in non-parametric permutation inference.

Ostriches can be utilized as multipurpose animals suitable for producing meat, eggs, feathers, and leather. This growing interest in ostrich farming leads to an increased demand for comprehensive information on their management. But, little attention is paid to the consequences for their welfare. The study aimed to perform a research literature analysis on ostriches’ welfare using the text mining (TM) and topic analysis (TA) methods. It identifies prevailing topics, summarizes their temporal trend within the last forty years, and highlights potential research gaps. According to PRISMA guidelines, a literature exploration was achieved using the Scopus^® database, retaining keywords about ostriches’ welfare. Papers distributed in the English language from 1983 to 2023 were included. Descriptive statistics, TM, and TA were applied to a total of n. 122 documents included. The findings revealed an increasing trend in research records since 1994. TM recognized the terms with the highest weighted frequency and TA identified the main topics of the research area, in the following order: “health and management”, “feeding and nutrition”, “welfare reproduction”, “egg production”, and “welfare during transport”. The study confirms the increased focus on ostriches’ welfare but shows that further studies are required to ensure the welfare of this species.

In violation of EU legislation, fraudulent activities in agri-food chains seek to make economic profits at the expense of consumers. Food frauds (FFs) often constitute a public health risk as well as a risk to animal and plant health, animal welfare and the environment. To analyze FFs in Italy during 1997–2020 with the aim of gaining observational insights into the effectiveness of the legislation in force and consequently of inspection activities, FFs were determined from official food inspections carried out by the Central Inspectorate of Quality Protection and Fraud Repression of Agri-food Products in 1997–2020. Inspected sectors were wine, oils and fats, milk and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, meat, eggs, honey, feeds and supplements, and seeds. Data show that the inspection activities have significantly improved in terms of sampling and fraud detection. However, a higher incidence of fraud involving the meat sector was observed. The obtained results demonstrate that there has not been a clear change of direction after the so-called “hygiene package” (food hygiene rules in the EU) came into force. Thus, more effective measures are needed to manage risk as well as new analytical solutions to increase the deterrence against meat adulteration and the rapid detection of fraud.

In recent years, consumer demand for animal-friendly production systems has driven the livestock industry to improve welfare standards. Protocols have been developed for different species such as calves, pigs, laying hens, and broilers to assess farms, compare practices, and establish a baseline for optimal welfare. However, despite their undoubted importance and presence on farms, ostriches are not included in these protocols. This study aims to develop a protocol for the welfare assessment of ostriches reared in intensive and semi-intensive systems using different indicators, which is feasible and time efficient. The protocol developed combines animal-based measures (physiological, appearance, and behavioral) with resource-based and management-based measures (management and environmental). Specifically, the ostrich welfare assessment protocol (OWAP) included 41 non-invasive measures: 14 animal-based, 12 resource-based, and 15 management-based. These measures were selected for their relevance, reliability, and feasibility. Each parameter is scored on a graded scale based on its condition, and the scores are aggregated to determine the overall welfare status of the ostriches. A threshold is set to classify welfare as acceptable, suboptimal, or unacceptable. Out of a total score of 95 (64 for indirect measures and 31 for direct measures), a score 63 optimal. This scoring system provides a systematic, objective approach to assessing ostrich welfare under different husbandry conditions.

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are structural anomalies present at birth, resulting from aberrant embryonic development. In veterinary medicine, CHDs are an important reason for disease and death in both dogs and cats. Their prevalence varies across species and breeds, with certain defects being more common in specific breeds due to genetic predisposition. In this article, we will focus specifically on cor triatriatum dexter (CTD), an uncommon congenital defect that involves the division of the right atrium into two chambers by a fibromuscular membrane. This malformation can have serious consequences, depending on the severity of the obstruction created by the membrane, and the presence of the often-associated congenital anomalies. It can range from mild, clinically silent anomalies to severe defects that result in heart failure, cyanosis, or sudden death. The present review aims to (i) explore the pathophysiology of CTD in dogs; (ii) outline the clinical scenario underlying the increased interest in CHDs by overviewing the evolution of appropriate diagnostic techniques and the treatment options available; and (iii) provide a discussion from a medical–legal and ethical point of view.