Arianna Torres
Alamy
Farmed animal welfare
Whole industries have been built on animal suffering, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Show world leaders that you support a transition toward a more resilient, plant-centric food system.
By the numbers
We must rethink our global food systems to protect farm animals and the planet. At Humane World for Animals, we're combining science, advocacy, and corporate engagement to persuade food companies, financial institutions, governments, and producers to improve the welfare of farmed animals and transition toward a more humane food system.
94.9 billion
land animals
are kept and slaughtered for food globally each year, most confined in industrial factory farms.
84.6 billion
chickens
suffer annually in cramped conditions — raised for meat or caged for egg production.
2,000+
food companies
have pledged to eliminate cage confinement for hens and pigs in their supply chains.
Meredith Lee/Humane World for Animals
Free Guide: Compassionate Eating
Choose compassion every time you eat
Confused by food labels like “cage-free”, “pasture-raised”, or “humanely raised”? You’re not alone. Learn what food labels really mean and how to choose animal-friendly, plant-based options with our free guide. Get expert tips and recipes your whole family will love.
Inside the issue: Animal suffering on industrial farms
Industrial animal agriculture is one of the largest drivers of animal suffering worldwide. Billions of animals endure extreme confinement in cages or crates so small they can barely move, denying them the ability to express natural behaviors.
Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Media
Pigs kept in crates face a host of physical and psychological health issues.
Stefanie McNerney/Humane World for Animals
Chickens are forced to spend their whole lives in tiny cages.
hiphotos35/istock
Methane is a significant problem.
What is a factory farm?
Many people have a vague idea, but few know the true extent of the horrors in these massive operations. Animals are cruelly confined for their entire lives in these brutal and violent places where the only way out is a horrific death. Most are denied any opportunity to express their natural behaviors, and will never breathe fresh air or feel grass beneath their feet.
Our work for farm animal protection
From advocating for humane farming legislation to collaborating with corporations on cage-free and crate-free policies, we’re driving progress for farmed animal welfare worldwide. Learn more about our farm animal welfare campaigns.
We help farmers transition to cage-free and crate-free housing systems, work with food companies to adopt and implement meaningful animal welfare policies and campaign to end abusive farming practices.
We guide schools, hospitals, food service companies and others in creating and implementing sustainable, plant-based food policies and commitments. We provide them with technical assistance such as culinary trainings, recipe and menu development, webinars, marketing support and sustainability analyses to successfully meet their goals.
We’re using science and advocacy to persuade corporations, financial institutions, food and food service companies, governments and producers to improve the lives of farmed animals raised for food and shift toward a more plant-forward, climate-friendly global food system.
Konrad Lozinski/We Animals Media
United States
Target is profiting from animal cruelty
Sign this petition to Brian Cornell, the CEO of Target, urging the company to keep its animal welfare promises.
Take action for farmed animals
Every action matters. Join our efforts to end factory farming cruelty, protect farm animals, and support a more compassionate food system. Discover ways to help farm animals today.
Related Petitions to Issue
Demandez à Loblaw de reprendre son rôle de héros pour les animaux
Le plus grand détaillant alimentaire du Canada a renoncé à son engagement de devenir un élevage 100 % sans cage d'ici 2025. En tant que chef de file du marché, Loblaw a le pouvoir de faire progresser concrètement des millions de poules au Canada. Exhortez l'entreprise à s'engager sur la voie d'un élevage véritablement sans cage.
Canada: Utilisez votre voix pour aider les poules!
Les modifications au code relatif aux poules pondeuses devraient interdire TOUTES les cages.
Ask Loblaw to be a hero for animals!
Canada’s largest grocery retailer, has walked back its commitment to go 100% cage-free by 2025. As a market leader, Loblaw has the power to drive real progress for millions of hens across Canada. Urge the company to eliminate cages entirely—not just battery cages—and stick to a truly cage-free future.
Protect Proposition 12
Pigs deserve to turn around! Proposition 12 provides farm animals with basic protections like this, and more.
Ban farrowing crates in the UK
Mother pigs (sows) confined in crates in the UK spend their adult lives unable to do anything other than stand up or lie down. It is cruel and unnecessary to force sows to be locked in narrow metal cages.
Speak up for animals suffering on factory farms
Prevent the suffering of animals on factory farms and protect the world around us. Urge world leaders to support and drive a transition toward a more resilient plant-centric food system.
Dig deeper
Understand the scope of the problem and why change is vital.
Backyard chickens give us a glimpse into the complex social and intellectual lives of chickens. Billions suffer on factory farms each year. They deserve so much more.
For comprehensive reports on animal agribusiness and its toll on farm animal welfare, the environment, and public health, browse through our research library.
As animal welfare standards are strengthened in more affluent nations, there may be a risk that objectionable animal production practices will shift to other parts of the world with weaker regulations.
Imagine spending your entire life in a cage so small you can’t even turn around. That’s the reality for many pigs and chickens on factory farms.
Latest News
Technical collaboration with producers in Chihuahua advances production of eggs from cage-free hens
Mexico
Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua - Humane World for Animals, in collaboration with the Northwest Poultry Farmers Association of Chihuahua, is working to accelerate the transition to the production of eggs from
“It should be illegal”: Scottish public “shocked” by cruelty of caging mother pigs
United Kingdom
EDINBURGH―Demonstrating local support for a ban on farrowing crates, public reactions filmed in Scotland by leading animal protection organisation Humane World for Animals UK (formerly Humane Society
First Thai Caterer Joins Global Cage-Free Egg Movement
Asia
BANGKOK — Foodhouse, Thailand’s leading catering service provider, has announced its commitment to transition to 100% cage-free eggs by 2028. This move marks a significant step towards more ethical
You can stop factory farming and other animal cruelty.
You can stop factory farming and other animal cruelty.
Animals on factory farms never breathe fresh air or feel grass beneath their feet. Your generous gift will support our work to improve the lives of farm animals.
beaer_photo/iStock.com