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Factors Affecting the Human Interpretation of Dog Behavior
This study from Sweden examines the effect of empathy on how humans interpret animal behavior, and specifically how veterinary students interpret the behavior of dogs. Using a combination of written questions and video footage, the researchers sought to determine what factors contribute to the perception of dogs as "aggressive" among vet students. The results of the study suggest that feelings of empathy and interpretations of aggression are (perhaps not surprisingly) negatively correlated, but also that an individual's claims of knowledge about an animal do not necessarily mean that person will correctly interpret that animal's behavior or feel increased empathy towards them. READ MORE

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Animal Welfare and Society Concerns Finding the Missing Link
In this recent paper, controversial agricultural scientist Temple Grandin makes a case for farmers to become more pro-active in opening up their operations to outside observers, especially affluent consumers in their 20's who are connected to social media like no generation before. Grandin's position is that consumers do not like to be surprised, and that every new undercover investigation that is released by animal rights activists erodes consumer confidence in the agricultural system. She enumerates numerous animal welfare problems that exist on factory farms, and how those problems can be addressed transparently by the industry. READ MORE

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Profiling Consumers Who Are Ready to Adopt Insects as a Meat Substitute in a Western Society
This study from Belgium examines the likelihood of Western consumers to eat insects as a "meat substitute," as well as the barriers that might prevent them from doing so. Respondents were asked a series of questions related to both regular meat consumption and insect consumption, and gave their opinions on whether they would eat bugs for reasons of nutrition and sustainability, or not at all. The results of the study show that while traditional meat eaters aren't very likely to start eating mealworms as part of their diet, there is a more "adventurous" demographic that would put bugs on the table. READ MORE

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Towards a ‘Good Life’ for Farm Animals: Development of a Resource Tier Framework to Achieve Positive Welfare for Laying Hens
This paper by a group of researchers in the U.K., looks at ways of going beyond a basic definition of animal welfare towards providing animals, specifically laying hens, with a "good life." Using the U.K.'s Farm Animal Welfare Committee's "Five Freedoms," which focused on negative aspects of welfare (such as freedom from pain, and so on), the paper seeks to build a regulatory framework that focuses on positive welfare, and opportunities rather than freedoms. Through a literature review as well as consultations with chicken welfare experts, they arrive at a potential system of grading (Welfare +, ++, and +++). Visits and evaluations at farms around the U.K. offers some initial findings that could help such a system be implemented. READ MORE
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