International Research

The results of this study showed that in elementary aged children, hyperactivity in boys was a unique predictor of cruelty toward animals, while self-reported behavior problems were a predictor of similar behavior in girls.

An opinion poll conducted at a European poultry technical seminar found that nearly a third of nutritionists, veterinarians, and other industry experts believe that the European Union (EU) program to reduce salmonella contamination in eggs and poultry flocks will put the competitiveness of EU poultry producers at risk.

This report offers from Concensus, a pro-aquaculture group, provides information on efforts to improve the sustainability of European aquaculture. Specifically, it addresses the welfare of farmed fish as producers seek out stocking densities and handling practices that optimize growth and health status while minimizing suffering. Scientific studies have identified indicators of fish welfare which can enable producers to measure the welfare of their farms.

Australians are voting with their wallets regarding the way that chickens for meat consumption are raised, with three in five Australians choosing chickens that are "free to roam outside in paddocks and guaranteed to not contain growth hormones."

A survey of consumers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina, and China reveals that consumers are most concerned with taste, quality, and the price of food; health is also important, particularly in China. Consumers predict that what we eat will be different in 2020, and while they would like to consume more local foods, they expect that more of their food will be imported.

This study of visitors to three zoos in India found that nearly two-thirds of survey respondents (64%) believe that zoos could "definitely" help protect wild animals. Zoo visitors seem to be more knowledgeable than the general public, based on a series of questions relating specifically to lion-tailed macaques.

Higher standards of animal welfare can provide positive benefits to producers and consumers, but producers by themselves are unlikely to maximize either animal or social welfare. Consequently, government involvement is warranted to ensure that the interests of consumers who care about animal welfare are considered. This paper analyzes the economic benefits of improving the welfare of "broiler" chickens.

This Canadian study sought to identify the attitudes, health-related behavior, "social adjustment," and perceptions of personal health among both vegetarian and omnivorous teenagers, with the goal of determining specific characteristics related to vegetarianism.

This study of Turkish veterinary students and educators found that both groups face a dilemma regarding issues surrounding animal experimentation, including the accuracy and moral implications of using alternatives. The authors conclude that the academic curriculum should be supported with related courses to eliminate the negative results of that dilemma.

Research conducted among Turkish veterinarians showed that, in general, this group supports animal welfare concerns with the exception of statements regarding the "stunning of ruminants pre-slaughter," the "phasing out of battery cages for poultry," and the "not operating on animals for aesthetic purposes."