The Cow Language Project
In the "Cow Language in Focus" project, made possible by the Barth-Misset Fund and the Meertens Institute, we have captured the communication of cows. We recorded their interactions on eight different farms (intensive dairy farms, organic dairy farms, a large and a...
Mourning Animals
I can’t see my chickens, who are normally out foraging all day, at all this morning. While I work, they’re always in the corner of my eye. But now, I’m missing the movements of the white birds in my autumnal garden. I put on a thick coat and step outside. At the...
How a Squirrel Influenced the American Elections
"I’ve Never Known Trump and His Allies to Show Any Compassion for Animals". Today, I spoke on the radio about the story of Peanut. This tale of Peanut, a squirrel, exposes a painful and ironic reality. What began as a simple act of kindness—New Yorker Mark Longo...
No More Sows in Cages
An average breeding sow farm has over 800 sows. The "task" of these animals is to "produce" piglets, which are fattened for slaughter within six months. In conventional pig farming, sows are confined to cages for up to 28 days. Even sows in organic pig farming or with...
Chattering Hens in Intensive Farming
Chattering—that’s what I call it when my three rescued laying hens are out in the garden scratching around. Their sounds are a mix of purring, humming, and whispering. It’s soft, calm, and sounds very content. How different it is when you enter a chicken shed housing...
Animals That Give Each Other Names
If Animals Give Each Other Names, Is Naming Really Uniquely Human? The idea of naming animals sparked debate in the 1950s when Jane Goodall began her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park. Instead of assigning the animals numbers or...
Animals Give Each Other Names—So What?
Scientists are increasingly uncovering traits in animals traditionally thought to be exclusively “human,” such as language and empathy. The understanding that animals, like humans, are capable of complex communication and emotions is growing steadily. Examples include...
This is a Free-Range Chicken
"But I always buy free-range eggs!" When I tell friends and acquaintances that I rescue laying hens who are no longer productive, I often get an apologetic response. I rarely call people out on their behaviour, but they feel the need to explain themselves to me, as...
A Gnu is Just Like a Cow
In the Serengeti, Tanzania, it’s a yearly spectacle as crowds gather to witness the migration of wildebeests (gnus). This animal, closely related to the cow, attracts tourists from all over the world. The herd behaviour, their responses to danger, and the collective...
Do Happy Chickens Exist in Factory Farming?
A Happy Chicken When I open the garden gate in the morning, they come running towards me. Exactly like the cartoon chickens from *Chicken Run*. Wings slightly bent backward, beaks forward, and little legs moving quickly in a trot. The streamlined shape makes for a...
About Animal Labour Union
The Animal Labour Union represents the animal workers in animal husbandry. Animals that provide a product or service to their employer, who…
Working Animals
Animals that provide (financial) added value for their employer/owner are working animals. Working animals can be found everywhere.
Communication with Animals
Animals can communicate very well. Anyone who lives around animals knows this. They let you know if they are hungry, want to go outside or experience pain.
Legislation and Research
Animals are protected in various places in the law. The Animals Act sets requirements for the way in which different animal species may be kept.