Factory Farming

In a study funded by the U.S. Beef Checkoff program, a Washington State University researcher conducted a historical analysis of the environmental footprint of the production of a pound of beef, concluding that the environmental sustainability of beef production has improved over time.

This presentation by Oklahoma State University Professor Bailey Norwood examines consumer purchasing decisions with respect to animal welfare by studying how consumers behaved during an egg and pork auction experiment featuring items from different types of farms, including cage-free and pasture systems.

This "Appetite" journal article from 2005 analyzes the historical impact of transparency when it comes to meat production, focusing on two trends: increasing concern for farmed animal welfare and increasing disassociation of animal products (meat in particular) from their animal sources.

From 1970-1992, average production of milk per cow in the United States has increased, while the number of cows and the number of farms with milk cows have decreased. In this article (written in 1992), the author predicted that these trends would likely to continue, with additional challenges for the U.S. dairy industry emerging in the future.

Research from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service examines various aspects of egg quality, finding that there is no substantial quality difference between types of eggs. The biggest difference identified among various types of eggs was the average egg size between cartons of white and brown eggs.

Modern egg production systems provide consumers with a number of choices in the types of eggs that they can buy, according to poultry extension specialist Gregory Martin from Pennsylvania State University. The vast majority (85%) of all eggs produced in Pennsylvania come from conventional cage housing. This article summarizes the stated benefits of modern cage-produced eggs versus cage-free eggs, according to Martin.

According to a presentation at the international meat trade show in Germany (IFFA), worldwide demand for sheep and goat meat is on the rise due to a combination of increasing per capita incomes and changing taste preferences.

Research from Asia suggests that free-range hens' eggs in Taiwan contain at least five times the levels of certain pollutants than regular eggs, most likely due to greater exposure to environmental pollutants and potentially toxic substances that are byproducts of burning waste.

Research from University's School of Archaeology and Ancient History student Brooklynne Fothergill documents the history of the turkey, which cites the turkey's original use as a source of feathers and as a symbol by the indigenous peoples of North America.

Survey results indicate that attitudes and level empathy among Norwegian dairy farmers have a significant influence on human-animal interactions that ultimately affects their behavior toward animals.