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Research shows us that the lives of animals, including farm animals, are much more complex than we previously understood. Their social groupings, communication, abilities to learn and understand, their feelings of pain, fear and anxiety, and the positive feelings of pleasure and play are vitally important to them.

The species who have perhaps been most studied for the abilities of intelligence and learning are apes, dolphins, elephants and parrots. Now some scientists are also exploring the mental abilities of more and more species, including farm animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens.

Recognition of our modern scientific knowledge of animal sentience in policy and practice is therefore also of vital importance and an increasing number of countries are enacting legislation to protect the welfare of animals.

Recognition of animal sentience in policy and culture worldwide

The complexities of animal behaviour revealed in the last few decades are astonishing, but what are the implications? More...