Farm Animals

Farm Animal Cognition and Welfare Research

Growing understanding of farm animal cognitive complexity is strengthening the welfare case for systemic changes to production practices.

Key Facts

Pigs demonstrate metacognition — awareness of their own knowledge states
Chickens show emotional contagion, sharing the distress of chicks they observe
Cows have friends and show positive emotional states when reunited with companions
Sheep can recognize over 50 individual faces and remember them for years

Welfare Considerations

Research demonstrating farm animal cognition systematically dismantles the rationale for practices predicated on these animals being simple stimulus-response machines. Animals with friends, memories, emotional lives, and social complexity are animals with welfare interests that demand serious consideration.

What You Can Do

Engage with farm animal cognition research to understand the basis for welfare standards
Share scientific findings about farm animal intelligence with your network
Support research institutions studying farm animal cognition and welfare
Use cognitive complexity evidence in advocacy conversations about farm animal welfare reform