We have quoted broadcaster and farmer John Humphrys before but his remark is well worth repeating because this clip shows you exactly what he’s talking about:
“They tear about the field, kicking their legs into the air …For six months they have lived in sheds, slept in stalls, stood on concrete. Now, once again, they have the grass beneath their feet. They seem, quite literally, to be full of the joy of spring. It lifts the spirits to watch them.”

Animal welfare consultant Heather Pickett has written a special article for our animal sentience pages. It’s a fascinating  read  about  horses’ behaviour, cognitive abilities (such as ‘thinking’) and welfare needs.  Horses have remarkably complex social lives; with membership of a herd being of ultimate importance to them and sometimes roaming for up to 80km in one day. They are great diplomats, able to resolve many conflicts in order to keep the herd together.

Self reflection. Copyright Compassion/ Ed Posposil

Mares often form lifetime relationships, spending most of their time together. Their foals often become good friends too as a result. They have remarkable memory skills and have even been shown to understand that a 3-D image can be shown in a photograph. For example, horses had been trained to have a ‘favourite’ object (for example a soft toy or a frisbee), using treats as positive reinforcement. Then they were shown photos of a range of things, including their ‘favoured toy’, and more often than not they would choose the photo of that toy. In a similar experiment (Stone 2009), horses were found to be able to tell the difference between photos of people, even identical twins!

Domesticated horses are often kept stabled alone and fed on concentrated food that is eaten quickly, rather than grazing the whole day as they would do in more natural conditions. These factors sometimes lead to destructive behaviours such as weaving, biting the stable doors and pacing. The occurrence of these unnatural behaviours illustrates that horses, just like many other animals, need an environment that more closely fits their needs and fully takes into account their sentience and intelligence.

Download the full article Pickett, H. (2009) ‘Horses: Their Behaviour, Mental Abilities and Welfare’. animalsentience.com
Shorter version also available

Reference: Stone, S. M. (2009) Human facial discrimination in horses: can they tell us apart?  Animal Cognition, Online first.

Fishcount.org.uk is an engaging new website created to increase awareness of the plight of fish caught for food, and to promote workable solutions for the future.

It is estimated that approximately 1-3 trillion fish are caught every year. The methods used in most fishing ventures have the potential to cause profound distress to fish and therefore more humane alternatives are proposed.

Fish farming is on the increase. Given that conditions for farmed fish too often cause suffering, it is essential that such systems are designed to pay full regard to the welfare of fish.

The evidence for fish sentience draws on wide and varied sources, from scientific studies to a really interesting film of Comet the goldfish (see clip below) who has learned to perform tricks. He can play football, fetch hoops just like a dog, swim through a tunnel or a slalom…the list goes on!

We are given a deep insight into the experience of caught fish and shown the welfare shortfalls in modern fishing techniques. These include rapid and damaging decompression when pulled in trawl nets from deep in the sea, which often results in the rupture of internal organs; being left to suffocate on ice until they die; and in the case of long line fishing they sometimes hang for days before they are ‘landed’, condemning them to a slow death and vulnerable to attack by predators. We can see how much distress these experiences could cause to a sentient being.

Some people have traditionally thought that fish do not suffer pain and distress in that the same way as land-based animals and humans. But increasingly, science now suggests that this is not the case, and that fish and indeed other underwater creatures such as crabs have the potential for pain and emotional experiences, just as we do. This clearly has enormous implications for the treatment of the fish that are caught for our tables. Fishing techniques to date have only focused on speed and quantity of catching , and have not considered the suffering of those creatures  who are caught.

Fish farming is on the increase. Given that conditions for farmed fish too often cause suffering, it is essential that such systems are designed to pay full regard to the welfare of fish. Fish are amazing animals with intrinsic value, and with our  increasing understanding of their sentience, change is urgently needed.

Visit www.fishcount.org.uk

The grandmother saw what was happening and stepped in to help, even producing milk for the youngster. From then on she took it in turns with the mother to care for the kid, being there to support the mother goat and also ensure the kid had plenty of food.

Across the generations

Another example of grandmothers helping out was in the news last week. Researchers in Japan had been observing free-ranging macaque family groups when they noticed some interesting situations. A grandmother macaque took over the care of her grandchild when the mother disappeared; carrying, grooming and allowing her to suckle,  although the researchers believe she didn’t produce any milk. Perhaps letting the baby macaque suckle may have been an act of reassurance for the youngster.

When the mother returned after a period of time (believed to be 6-14 days) she resumed her duties in caring for the youngster.  Another grandmother was witnessed ‘sharing care’ with a struggling mother, and this time was believed to be producing milk as well.

A key feature in all of these stories is the fact that the grandmother was prepared to get involved quickly if needed, but was not overly possessive of the youngster. In both cases they seemed happy to share care with the mother, or hand the infant back when their job was done. This shows sensitivity to the needs of the situation, and more flexible thinking than if they were to simply ‘take over’ an abandoned youngster.

Sources:
BBC News – Grandmother Monkeys care for baby

Nakamichi, M., Onishi, K. and Yamada, K. (2009) Old grandmothers provide essential care to their young granddaughters in a free-ranging group of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata)Primates, Online first. 10.1007/s10329-009-0177-7

The importance of the relationship between a ewe and her adopted lamb. Image copyright Compassion/Elli Goodlet.

Janet Taylor of Farm Animal Sanctuary near Worcester told us this touching tale of two sheep. Jasmine was a mature ewe who hadn’t had a lamb for 6 or 7 years. A group of newly rescued sheep moved into the field next to her, including some orphaned lambs, and over the next few days she began calling to one orphan named Alfie. He was calling back to her and eventually Janet decided to put him over the fence to be with her – and see what happened.

Alfie began to try to suckle  Jasmine, as he would have done his biological mother, and Jasmine let him do so. Janet felt that at least this would provide him with the comfort of contact with a ‘mother’ but continued to bottle-feed him. Amazingly, Jasmine began to produce milk herself and was able to feed her newly adopted lamb as her own.

We have heard about a number of female animals who have adopted and fed orphaned youngsters. This even happens across species; for example, pigs are known to have adopted newborn puppies.

This shows the strength of both the maternal instinct and the need to have care from a mother figure. Perhaps all the species we commonly farm have this need but sadly, they are often denied it. In the light of our modern scientific understanding of animal sentience, Compassion in World Farming believes that farming policy and practice must take full account of animal sentience – as is required by European Union law.

Santino, another clever chimp, who's at www.livesofanimals.org/2009/03/santino-rocks/

This shows us more fascinating evidence about the sentience of chimps. In this case, Sakura is in a human-designed, captive environment, which may be somewhat enriched, but which is still unnatural for a chimp. The fact that Sakura works out what to do in these circumstances tells us even more about chimp awareness and understanding. These abilities are strong indicators of animal sentience.

Sakura is not alone in preferring sweet music. Back in 2001, there was research investigating how cows reacted to fast beats or to softer music. The researchers said: “We found that slow music improved milk yields perhaps because it relaxes the cows in much the same way as it relaxes humans.”

Despite increasing awareness of animal sentience, there is still resistance to appreciating or acknowledging that animals are sentient beings and there is reluctance to peer over the barrier of “human vs other animals” that we ourselves have created.

Cows enjoy soothing sounds. Photo (c) Compassion in World Farming/Karen Playford

It was previously thought that this kind of choice and preference about music was a “uniquely human trait.” So we see that Sakura and the dairy cows have overcome yet another barrier!

As reported in the Daily Mail, Clyde is blind, and  Bonnie leads him “to food or water, and lets him rest his head on her haunches when he feels a bit lost. They are inseparable, and if Bonnie isn’t nearby Clyde refuses to move a paw.”

Bonnie and Clyde were rescued as strays recently and now they happily have a new home. The BBC’s One Show has a special page and film about these two great friends.

Jane Goodall and friend. Image (c) Michael Neugebauer

Dr Jane Goodall’s pioneering studies of wild chimpanzees revolutionised our knowledge about the sentience of these amazing animals.

This event is an exciting chance to meet Dr Goodall, hear more about her fascinating life and work, and take part in an informative question and answer session. Tickets are £20 for members of the Jane Goodall Institute and £40 for non members.

For more information and to book tickets, please contact Claire Quarendon at The Jane Goodall Institute, UK . 
Tel: 023 8033 5660 or email claire@janegoodall.org.uk

It takes an illuminating look at the sentient animals in today’s farms. Watching wild boar and junglefowl, who are the ancestors of today’s farmed pigs, chickens and hens, we see that our ”modern” farm animals still have many of the behaviour patterns of their wild cousins.

Perhaps the maternal drive is the strongest natural feeling. Image: Compassion in World Farming/Karen Playford

 Modern factory farms are very far from nature. A hen in a barren battery cage cannot even spread her wings, let alone carry out other natural behaviours that are so important for her physical and psychological well-being.

Piglets in a crowded and barren concrete pen have little chance to enjoy their young lives and in boredom, may turn to biting the tails of  their fellow piglets – a sad cycle of distress. Their mothers may be kept in sow stalls and farrowing crates. These are effectively cages, so narrow that the sows can’t even turn around.

The scale of industrial animal farming also takes a heavy toll on the environment, the world’s water and its cereal crops. Excessive consumption of meat and dairy can harm human health.

If we have fewer farm animals in better conditions, there are big advantages for the animals, people and the planet.

Farm animals are sentient beings who have feelings that matter to them, and given the right conditions, they can enjoy their share of life’s pleasures.

In higher welfare conditions, farm animals can enjoy their share of life's pleasures

Standard documentaries about wild animals under threat often do not tell us what we can do help. While modern commercial breeds of farmed animals are not at risk of extinction, their welfare arguably is!

Farm Animals and Us 2 informs us about what we can do to help protect their welfare. Well-managed free range and organic farms can offer a much better chance for a quality of life. We can choose to consume less meat and milk, and choose only animal products from higher welfare systems.

The film is suitable for general interested viewers and is widely used in schools and colleges for students of 14+ . You can watch the film on YouTube, in three parts of 10 minutes each, or please contact us for the DVD.

Here are links to the film:
Part One – Pigs and the natural behaviour of wild boar; intensive pig farming; free-range alternatives.
Part Two -  Hens and chickens and the natural behaviour of jungle fowl;  intensive egg production; free-range alternatives; intensive meat chicken (’broiler’) production. 
Part Three – Animal sentience; feeding the world; economics and sustainability.

For youngsters, Compassion offers the film Farm Animals and Us, also in three parts on YouTube or again, contact us for the DVD.

Farm Animals and Us 1
Part One -     What we know about the sentience of our farm animals
Part Two -     How intensive farming developed; farming of meat chickens (’broilers’).
Part Three - Food chains and energy; choices we make about the meat and dairy we buy.

Because farm animals are sentient beings, how they are treated is of vital importance to them.

Animals who are afraid of humans because they have been treated roughly or unkindly may be more stressed and suffer health and welfare problems.

Kind treatment is more likely to mean happy and well-cared-for cows. Now researchers have found that cows whose farmers talk to them by name are,  perhaps unsurprisingly, more relaxed.

You can see the clip about the cows here.

Talking about dairy cows let out from the winter sheds into the great outdoors, John Humphrys says:
“They tear about the field, kicking their legs into the air …For six months they have lived in sheds, slept in stalls, stood on concrete. Now, once again, they have the grass beneath their feet. They seem, quite literally, to be full of the joy of spring. It lifts the spirits to watch them.”