Animal Welfare / Public News Service

California's Proposition 12 mandated minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens but does not apply to chickens raised for meat. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Animal welfare advocates work to save CA's Prop 12 under Trump

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

According to a survey by the Veganuary organization, 81% of participants who took the survey maintained a dramatic reduction in their animal product consumption after six months. (Iuliia Metkalova/Adobe Stock)

'Veganuary' challenge continues to see growth in 2025

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

An undercover investigator looking into abuse at animal auctions says mistreatment becomes normalized, as workers are pressured by management to move animals in and out, quickly. (Photo courtesy of Ron Chiang/We Animals)

Livestock undercover: How good people do bad things to animals

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

Supporters of Measure J said opposition mailers such as this one were used to spread false claims ahead of the election. (Direct Action Everywhere)

Opponents of factory farms regroup after mixed election results

Animal rights organizers are regrouping after mixed results at the ballot box in November. A measure targeting factory farms passed in Berkeley but …

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Elon Musk, Joe Rogan spread misinformation on agriculture

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Wyoming News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

Antimicrobial consumption in farm animals is on the rise in the U.S., while declining in Europe by 44% from 2014 to 2021. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Antibiotic use in livestock, once in decline, is creeping back up

By Sophie Kevany for Sentient.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

From Sept. 1, 2023, to Sept. 23, 2024, influencers with more than 16 million combined total followers and subscribers made 183 total posts sharing climate and meat misinformation, nabbing 23.555 million views and 1,048,902 shares and likes, according to Climate Action Against Disinformation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Right-wing influencers push meat, misinformation

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

About 30% of agricultural methane emissions stem from manure storage. The other 70% comes from the digestive systems of livestock. (Adobe Stock)

CT, US take steps to mitigate methane emissions

By Seth Millstein for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for Connecticut News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News …

Poultry consumption has skyrocketed over the last 60 years. Between 1961 and 2022, the average person went from eating 6.3 pounds of chicken every year to more than 37 pounds, an increase of almost 600%. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of animal welfare laws lead to misery on 'factory farms'

Advocates said a lack of animal welfare laws is leading to pain and suffering on American factory farms. Close to 99% of livestock is now raised in …

Every 24 hours, between 3 and 6 billion animals are killed for food. That comes to a lower-end estimate of 1.2 trillion animals killed every year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Few animal welfare laws lead to misery in factory farms

Advocates said a lack of animal welfare laws is leading to pain and suffering on American factory farms. Close to 99% of livestock is now raised in …

Milk is the only food that makes up an entire food group. (magdal3na/Adobe Stock)

Activist: Dairy may not be best way to get your calcium

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration Wh…

Every year, humans around the world eat 360 million metric tons of meat, according to OurWorldinData.org. (Adobe Stock)

How many animals are killed for food every day?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Colla…

Since the 1940s, about 50% of zoonotic diseases have been traced to agriculture, according to research in the journal BioScience. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Probiotics on farms could fight antibiotic resistance

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

A growing number of Iowa farmers are shunning the use of gestation crates where sows are held until they give birth. (Adobe Stock)

More Iowa farmers support gestation crate ban

By Nina Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration When B…

Animal-welfare groups accuse state authorities of turning a blind eye to allegations of neglect at California poultry farms. (Roibu/Adobe Stock)

Mixed results for CA measures to end factory farming

A measure to end factory farming in Sonoma County has only received about 15% of the vote so far - so supporters are gathering tomorrow in Santa Rosa …

The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance was created to help preserve and protect the scenic beauty and pristine water quality of the Buffalo National River by opposing and preventing the construction and operation of industrial concentrated animal feeding operations within the Buffalo River watershed. (ODell Outside/Adobe Stock)

AR nonprofit works to protect Buffalo National River from contamination

Members of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance are supporting two moratoriums on concentrated animal feeding operations to be voted on today by the A…

Bobcats are elusive, native predators known for their sharp senses and solitary nature, typically hunting at dawn or dusk. (Adobe stock)

Hoosiers push back on bobcat hunting season

Indiana's Department of Natural Resources is pushing a bobcat trapping plan after a new law required a hunting season by 2025. Opponents said the …

Experts said when it comes to implementing and changing the country's agricultural policies, presidents have several tools at their disposal. (Adobe stock)

Indiana’s farmers and Trump’s deregulation dilemma

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration A…

Slaughterhouses can contribute to environmental degradation through toxic runoff and water usage. (Adobe Stock)

GA activist focuses on zoning violations to advocate for environmental health

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Georgia News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

Animal-rights advocates are testing whether asking for people's votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas) Animal rights advocates are testing whether asking for people�s votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas)

Denver could become first city to ban slaughterhouses

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

In 2022, more than 210 million turkeys were raised on about 2,500 farms across the United States, according to the National Turkey Federation. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates combat Utah factory farming ahead of holidays

Animal rights advocates are coming to Utah this week to sound the alarm about the living conditions and treatment of turkeys on large factory farms…

Around 1 million chickens, 14,000 pigs and 4,000 cows are slaughtered every hour in the United States, according to the Animal Welfare Institute. Advocates said despite congressional action, enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act by government regulators remains lacking. (Adobe Stock)

From puppies to whales: 2024 election gives animals a political moment

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration…

Some Wisconsin farmers were using their own money to feed tens of thousands of chickens after processor Pure Prairie alerted them they were no longer able to pay for feed for their flocks. (Adobe Stock)

WI farmers regroup after massive 'chicken giveaway' on Facebook

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the name of the poultry producer. (9:55 a.m. MDT, Oct. 28, 2924) Some …

The turkey industry produces more than 5.3 billion pounds of turkey products annually, according to the National Turkey Federation. (Adobe Stock)

Ahead of Thanksgiving, NV urged to fight the 'turkey craze'

Animal-rights advocates in Nevada and around the country are sounding the alarm about the living conditions and treatment of turkeys on large factory …

More than 55% of agricultural lands in South Dakota, or 24 million acres, are dedicated to animal production, according to the Governor's Office of Economic Development. (Adobe Stock)

Sustainable meat industries could use boost from billionaires

Since 1964, per capita meat consumption has doubled and environmental advocates cautioned it is unsustainable. And there are more billionaires…

According to the USDA, there are 2,850 slaughterhouses in the U.S., not including facilities slaughtering poultry. (Adobe Stock)

Milwaukee group vigilant about WI slaughterhouse projects

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Col…

Collectively, poultry farmers owe $5.2 billion, according to Mercy for Animals. (Adobe Stock)

The Transfarmation Project offers factory farmers new path

By Michaela Haas for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalis…

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says up to 500 species of native bees live in the state and contribute to the existence of plant species and agricultural crop production. (Adobe Stock)

IL bee population stunted by pesticides

One of nature's hardest workers is facing extinction from repeated exposure to a dangerous pesticide. Scientists conducting CT scans reveal …

A multistate outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in dairy cows was first reported on March 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

As USDA announces field trials for bird flu, UT veterinarian expects long process

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved field trials for bird flu vaccines among cattle, but one Utah State veterinarian says to his …

More than 180 local and state elected officials from more than 40 states are coming together urging Congress to reject the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed ‘EATS’ Act could devour NY agriculture laws

A federal bill could spell trouble for New York farmers. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act would remove local and state governments' …

One cow can produce up to 264 pounds of methane every year, and it's estimated that livestock production is responsible for 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions. (Adobe Stock)

How livestock farming fuels climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Federal lawmakers respond to WY wolf abuse, state's response

Following the torture of a wolf by a Wyoming man, a state panel is seeking a bill to protect the killing of predators with vehicles, but Federal …

In response to the House Draw Fire, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department invited reports of injured wildlife to a hotline typically used to report poaching. (Adobe Stock)

WY communities pitch in on wildfire recovery efforts

Recent extreme wildfires in Wyoming burned nearly 500,000 acres and among those recovering are ranchers and their surviving livestock. Wildfires …

Meatpackers are able to lower the cost of processing each animal by running bigger operations compared to smaller facilities. (Dragosh/Adobe Stock)

AR ranchers want a bigger cut from beef industry

The price of beef could be on the minds of Arkansas farmers and ranchers when they go to the polls in November. Currently, just four companies - …

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Mainers seek more ‘sustainable’ seafood but labels may be misleading

Mainers are buying more "sustainable" and "humane" seafood but animal welfare advocates said such labels may not be telling the whole story. The …

Seventy U.S. Supreme Court decisions and 17,000 lower court decisions have relied on Chevron, a 1984 case that set precedent and that the Supreme Court overruled in June. (Michele Ursi/Adobe Stock)

U.S. Supreme Court decision could shape animal farm regulations

By Marlena Williams for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

Salmon are the most consumed fish in the world by value, and tuna are the most consumed by volume. (Jakub Rutkiewicz/Adobe Stock)

'Humane' and 'sustainable' fish labels may be misleading

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

Critics of the commercial meatpacking industry said conditions are inhumane for the animals and dangerous for the people who work in processing plants. (Adobe Stock)

Rights group calls for review of meatpacking plants

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation this spring found the number of minors employed in livestock slaughterhouses nearly quadrupled between 2015 …

There is a 50% chance a chick hatchling will be male but the males hatching in egg-laying operations are often destroyed because they are not profitable to be raised for meat. (Adobe Stock)

Animal advocates call for chicken egg gender testing

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration Eve…

People are asked to turn off all non-essential lights from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each night during migration season. (babaroga/Adobe Stock)

Texans asked to turn lights out during migratory bird season

The fall migration period for birds is underway, and the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife is trying to save as many birds as possible. The Lights …

The industry group Illinois Pork Producers reported hog production and processing supports nearly 58,000 jobs in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Unsafe IL feed facilities harm workers, compromise public health

A new study shows more than 1 million tons of animal waste is produced every year in the U.S. Consumers' desire for more animal protein and better …

Human symptoms of U.S. avian influenza cases to date include conjunctivitis, mild respiratory symptoms and some increased lethargy, according to Crystal Heath of Our Honor. (Scott Griesel/Adobe Stock)

Growing concern over avian influenza in humans

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

Animal rights groups point to commercial egg production facilities leaving hens in cages 24/7 as

Animal activists push back on AR factory-farm industry 'ag-gag' laws

Legislatures in states such as Arkansas and others are passing legislation, known as "ag-gag laws," to stop undercover reporting of the often …

Concentrated animal feeding operations often house thousands of cattle at a single location. (Lukas Vincour/Zv�rata Nej�me/We Animals Media)

Report: CA factory farms perilously close to your produce

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collab…

In an article on the Food and Water Watch website, reporter Rebecca Wolf writes,

New organic rules for livestock: What will they mean?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Deborah Van Fleet for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

Agricultural interests from around the state are contributing to efforts to defeat Measure J in Sonoma County, which seeks to ban concentrated animal feeding operations. (Marcelo/Adobe Stock)

Sonoma County ballot measure would ban large livestock farms

This November, voters in Sonoma County will decide on a first-of-its-kind proposal, known as "Measure J," to ban large concentrated animal feeding …

The Biden administration has released a Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, describing how programs funded by the Farm Bill should adopt practices to improve manure management and substantially reduce methane emissions from livestock, which contribute to climate change. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Farm waste ups dangers of climate change-related weather events

As the Atlantic coast braces for what could be an active hurricane season, environmental groups are warning about the dangers of agricultural …

Large confined animal feeding operations can pose pollution threats to surface and groundwater. (Aaron/Adobe Stock)

ID offers grants to improve confined animal operations

Idaho is accepting proposals for projects that improve confined animal feeding operations in the state. The operations - also known as CAFOs - can …

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Animal Welfare