Important animal terms glossary

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E

Enriched cages

A new type of battery cages for laying hens that, compared to conventional systems, provides more space for the birds and is equipped with structural features like perches, a nest box and litter or scratch area to stimulate natural behaviour. Droppings are removed via manure belts. In Germany since 2026 enriched cages are not allowed anymore.

Ensiling

To make silage from green fodder. Silo

Environmental enrichment

Material that is provided to an animal to encourage natural behaviours such as foraging, pecking, scratching and perching.

For pigs this includes manipulable materials such as straw, hay, wood, sawdust, mushroom compost, peat or a mixture of such, to enable proper investigatory behaviour (rooting)
For laying hens and broilers this includes perches, straw bales, pecking substrates and friable litter

Enzyme

A type of protein present in living organisms that catalyses (speeds up) chemical changes without being changed itself.

Essential amino acids

Those amino acids that cannot be made by a plant or animal but must be obtained from the environment or food.