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The article focuses on the use of animals in federally funded biomedical research, highlighting the federal policy framework that aims to balance animal welfare and scientific value. Topics include the Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service Policy, regulations governing animal use and welfare, the types of animals commonly used, and ongoing policy efforts to develop alternatives to animal use, with conflicting views on the need for reform in the current policy framework.

"These reports succinctly detail those true intentions, the strategic efforts of the animal rights movement to further their agenda, and key tactics for the animal agriculture community to be aware of." Several updates were made to the Animal Rights Extremist Web including several new groups for the farm and food community to be aware of, including The Accountability Board and the Organization for Competitive Markets. The Animal Agriculture Alliance released two reports detailing the interconnectedness of the animal rights movement, as well as tactics targeting animal agriculture. [Extracted from the article]

Welfare and health of food production animals are active areas of concern for both producers and consumers. The standard industry pen allowance is 15 square meters per animal per pen and 30 centimeters per animal in feed bunks. As animal rights lobbyists voice their concerns for the welfare of food production animals, researchers continue to focus on improving conditions for all animals. [Extracted from the article]

The animal-rights movement, once considered a fringe political cause, has become a significant force in American culture, with advocacy groups claiming millions of members and public-opinion polls showing growing popular support for animal welfare. Activists argue that all creatures have a right to live free from pain and exploitation and that humans should give animals' needs greater consideration. Some believe animals should have legal rights similar to those accorded humans, and many oppose eating meat or using animal products of any kind. The issue pits animal-rights activists against modern, large-scale agricultural and livestock producers, biomedical researchers, hunters and the operators of some zoos and wildlife parks. Critics of the movement say it ignores meaningful differences between humans and animals, including the higher thought processes and ability to make moral choices that distinguish the human race from the animal kingdom. They reject the notions that animals should have rights and that people have no right to use animals for the benefit of humankind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Releasing reports from major activist conferences allows our members and the broader animal agriculture community to be well-informed of emerging tactics so that they can take steps to safeguard their livelihoods from potential extremist threats." The Animal Agriculture Alliance has concluded its release of reports from five prominent animal rights extremist conferences held over the course of 2022. [Extracted from the article]

The Supreme Court of the United States denied R-CALF USA's lawsuit against 13 state beef councils and the beef checkoff. R-CALF adds the district court importantly found that USDA's decades-long conduct in operating the beef checkoff program prior to R-CALF USA's litigation was not substantially justified and stated: "USDA should have known that the program that R-CALF challenged was unconstitutional..." Bullard notes another important reform won in this case was that the USDA promulgated formal rules that now allow cattle producers to opt out of funding the activities of their state beef council. Bill Bullard, R-CALF CEO, explains while the organizatoni is obviously disappointed that their effort to force reforms to the beef checkoff has ended in the first of two lawsuits, R-CALF is grateful for the reforms it did accomplish for U.S. cattle producers. [Extracted from the article]

Jack Bobo, chief executive officer of Futurity, kicked off the Summit in a keynote session opening attendees' minds to consider if animal agriculture can save the planet. Bobo discussed beliefs that the food system is broken, which he said stem from issues with food security and equity. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on several factors which can be considered on addressing animal and elderly care. It relates the results of the study published on the "Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect" which aims to evaluate how issues about animal abuse are being addressed in the context of elder abuse in the U.S. It discusses the significance of determining the type and needs of people. Moreover, it examines the relationship between pets and elderly.

The article discusses the background and issues of domestic terrorist threat to U.S. Congress. Domestic terrorists are reportedly people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements thereby, killing American citizens and damaging U.S. properties. It is stated that domestic terrorism includes individuals who commit crimes supporting animal rights, anarchism, white supremacy, black separatism and anti-government ideals.

What worries me more than the perceived red and blue divide is the realization that some politicians are being influenced and doing the dirty work for slick lobbying machines including animal rights activists extremist groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The HSUS and HLF spend massive amounts of money to buy new laws and regulations, and to influence lawmakers to do their bidding. This law mandates that any egg, pork product, or veal product produced in the state or shipped in from another abide by the new regulations. [Extracted from the article]

All eyes were on the Super Bowl, and in between a nail-biter game between the 49ers and the Chiefs, there were plenty of commercials ranging from very heartfelt to slapstick funny and a flashy halftime performance starring Latin pop stars Shakira and J Lo. This ad aired regionally and not during the national Super Bowl programming; however, CCF goes the low road route and uses the same fear mongering tactics that are so often used against the beef industry. [Extracted from the article]

All eyes were on the Super Bowl, and in between a nail-biter game between the 49ers and the Chiefs, there were plenty of commercials ranging from very heartfelt to slapstick funny and a flashy halftime performance starring Latin pop stars Shakira and J Lo. This ad aired regionally and not during the national Super Bowl programming; however, CCF goes the low road route and uses the same fear mongering tactics that are so often used against the beef industry. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers news briefs concerning the food industry as of July 2006. General Mills Inc. recorded a decline in quarterly profits compared to the previous year. British retailer Tesco released first-quarter financial figures indicating weaker sales performance. ConAgra Foods Inc. has asked its poultry suppliers to consider slaughtering their chickens in line with recommendations made by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

For hundreds of years, the United States and countries around the world relentlessly hunted whales and other marine mammals for their oil, blubber and other byproducts. But today whales, dolphins and porpoises are widely viewed as intelligent creatures worthy of conservation and protection from commercial hunters. Scientists describe marine mammals as social animals that share characteristics with humans, including the ability to communicate in sophisticated ways. But Japan, Norway and Iceland still hunt whales, and Japan continues its controversial slaughter of dolphins for their meat, as dramatized by the Academy Award-winning documentary "The Cove." Efforts to ban commercial whaling by the International Whaling Commission have failed because of political bickering and competing national interests. Meanwhile, climate change, entanglement in commercial-fishing gear and ocean noise pollution are adding to the peril facing marine mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian scientists recently reported that octopuses were the first invertebrates to be observed using tools. In January, in a laboratory, a crow became the first bird to show "insight" — grasping the solution to a problem by mental activity, not trial-and-error behavior. Today virtually all animal scientists agree that animals — down through the insect kingdom — have amazing powers of mind. Nevertheless, some scholars warn against concluding that animals' minds are like the minds of humans. Skeptics say there is no evidence animals can generate language in the creative way humans can or form abstract concepts of things they cannot see or touch. A case in point, say some, is the fall from grace of Marc Hauser, a leading animal-mind researcher who championed an expansive view of some animals' mental abilities. Hauser was placed on leave from his Harvard professorship in August after a university probe concluded that he had falsified data in several of his high-profile studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The passage of dozens of tough state animal-protection laws last year reflects growing public interest in animal welfare. Today, many Americans view pets as family members, and some even leave bequests to pets in their wills. Vegetarianism has gone mainstream as people have become concerned about the conditions on factory farms, and many scientists say farm animals have feelings. Fifteen years ago, only 10 of the country's law schools offered animal-law courses; today about 130 do. At the same time, however, billions of animals are slaughtered for food each year in our meat-eating society, and live-animal research is a major tool of biomedicine. The food industry, researchers and others who depend on using and killing animals are fighting back against what they call overblown concerns about animal rights. Last November, for example, Ohio voters approved an amendment to the state's constitution barring the legislature from approving any animal-protection laws that would apply to farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Animal Welfare Act was first passed in 1966 to prevent pets from being stolen and sold to research laboratories, and to improve the treatment and well-being of animals intended for research. Congress has amended the act five times since then to strengthen its provisions, expand coverage to more animals and activities, and curtail animal fighting, among other things. Some animal protection groups support measures to further expand federal regulation of animal treatment. Bills proposed in the 109th Congress included those addressing animal fighting, dog and cat protection, and pet evacuation in disasters, among others. Several proposals have reemerged in the 110th Congress, including H.R. 137/S. 261; and H.R. 1280/S. 714. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most U.S. meat, poultry, eggs and milk come from so-called factory farms or CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations), where thousands of animals are confined indoors. While they efficiently produce abundant supplies of affordable food, CAFOs also raise questions about animal welfare, public health and environmental degradation. Large livestock farms create huge quantities of animal waste, which produce noxious air emissions and contaminate water supplies when storage facilities leak or overflow. Overuse of antibiotics to keep animals healthy in crowded conditions helps generate drug-resistant bacteria and spread infections in humans. And many critics argue that long-term confinement in small enclosures or cages harms farm animals. Organic and free-range meat and eggs are increasingly popular, but they are more expensive than conventional meat and dairy products, and some organic suppliers are adopting industrial-style methods to keep up with demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Animal Welfare Act was first passed in 1966 to prevent pets from being stolen and sold to research laboratories, and to improve the treatment and well-being of animals intended for research. Congress has amended the act five times since then to strengthen its provisions, expand coverage to more animals and activities, and curtail animal fighting, among other things. Some animal protection groups support measures to further expand federal regulation of animal treatment. Bills proposed in the 109th Congress included those addressing animal fighting, dog and cat protection, and pet evacuation in disasters, among others. This report will be updated if significant developments ensue in the 110th Congress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoos have come a long way since their beginnings in ancient times as diversions for the rich and powerful. Many zoos today see their primary purpose as breeding endangered species in captivity and reintroducing them into the wild. But critics in the animal-welfare community say reintroduction efforts have been unsuccessful and that zoos would better serve the cause of wildlife conservation by devoting more time and resources to helping preserve threatened habitats around the globe. Others argue that zoos, regardless of their good intentions, are fundamentally immoral because they imprison thousands of helpless animals merely for the sake of human amusement. But advocates of zoos argue that they play a crucial role in awakening the public to wildlife-conservation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranchers are nothing if not eternal optimists. I'm hopeful that consumers will finally recognize the amazing work beef producers have done in being the best stewards of the land while producing the most nutritious, delicious, safe and affordable beef in the world. 1. Ellen DeGeneres: Could this rancher please come on your show?. [Extracted from the article]

In a world where we ask advocates to be transparent and farmers/ranchers to be willing to share their stories, it is met with hostility, bullying, threats and harassment. That's where activists break into a farm, find the animals the members think needs the most care, and then leaves with the animals. [Extracted from the article]

It's not just animal agriculture that is in the crosshairs of activists; hunters cannot escape the damage to personal and private property done by these organizations. 5. Animal rights activists hold overnight hunger strike outside Oakland Whole Foods By The Mercury News. [Extracted from the article]

Our friends in the pork industry recently had to contend with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). "'The dismissal of this case is a win for American pork producers who depend on NPPC's issues advocacy work and the research, education and promotional work performed by the National Pork Board', said David Herring, a pork producer from Lillington, N.C. and NPPC's president. [Extracted from the article]

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog titled, "On activists, cyber bullying & meatless propaganda". The Animal Agriculture Alliance (AAA) attended the Animal Rights National Conference in Virginia in late July.

Highlights from the article: One of three suspects has been taken into custody in the Fair Oaks Farms animal abuse investigation, the Newton County, Ind., Sheriff's Office announced. Edgar Gardozo-Vasquez of Brook, Ind., was arrested on misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and felony charges of torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal.

The article reports on French manufacturers' reaction to U.S. Supreme Court's decision on January 7, 2019 to ban the sales of their product foie gras, a delicacy produced by force-feeding geese and ducks. It talks about the French foie gras producers association's allegations that the decision influenced by the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other campaigners' efforts may spoil the image of the dish which is symbolic of France's cultural heritage.

The 1980s saw a new kind of activism in the animal rights movement. Groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals borrowed tactics from other protest movements to publicize their concerns, including the use of animals in research and product testing. The number of animals used in cosmetics testing has been reduced significantly and the conditions of animals used in biomedical research have improved. But now the scientific community is mounting an aggressive counterattack against the animal rights movement. The AMA, the National Academy of Sciences and federal officials have condemned the over zealousness of animal rights activists and accused them of hindering much-needed medical research. If current trends continue, they warn, advances in fighting cancer and AIDS could be hindered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly every week, scientists report identifying a new gene linked to a particular human trait. The discoveries have provided a clearer understanding of the human condition and offered a starting point for potential cures to cancer, AIDS, cystic fibrosis and a host of other afflictions. But the ability to unravel the mysteries of DNA has led some researchers to look for genetic links to commonplace behaviors, such as sexuality, violence and risk-taking. That has spawned a sometimes passionate debate over how much biology controls destiny and whether society is relying too much on science and discounting underlying social and economic conditions. Policy-makers are trying to sort out the social ramifications and establish ground rules for genetic testing and privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These are heady days for animal rights activists. From its humble beginnings just over 20 years ago, the movement has grown tremendously, both in size and importance. Public opinion polls show broad support for parts of the animal rights agenda, including the movement's campaigns against wearing fur, eating veal or using animals to test cosmetics and other consumer products. But while many Americans sympathize with the animal rights movement, most people still eat at least some meat and most believe in the necessity of using animals for biomedical research. The movement's successes also have prompted medical researchers, AIDS activists, farmers and others to devote more time and resources to countering animal rights activists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first successful transplant of a human organ 40 years ago, the demand for organs has greatly exceeded the supply. About 40,000 Americans are awaiting organ donations, but fewer than half will get them. Medical experts have had limited success in closing the gap in voluntary organ donations, while proposals to offer payments to donors or use animal organs have been criticized on ethical grounds. The use of fetal tissue to treat chronic disorders affecting the elderly, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, also has proved contentious. For some would-be organ recipients, however, the biggest obstacle is money. Operations can cost $200,000 or more, and expensive drugs must be used throughout the patient's lifetime to prevent rejection of the new organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All across the country, hunters are under assault by animal-rights groups and environmentalists who condemn the killing of animals by sportsmen as inhumane. Initially caught off balance by the attacks, hunters have mounted a counter-offensive. Hunting, they claim, is not only a cherished American tradition and a spiritually enriching activity but also an effective wildlife-management tool. As they trade charges, both sides hope to sway the thinking of the vast non-hunting majority of the American public. The stakes are high: Opponents of hunting aim for nothing less than legislation abolishing sport hunting. But even if the nation's 18 million hunters win the battle of words, continuing population growth and shrinking wildlife habitat seem sure to change their sport in ways not to their liking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the pledge taken by Noble Foods to supply only cage-free eggs by 2025. Topics discussed include the company's work with its retail partners and the farming community; a video released by animal rights group Animal Equality showing the poor conditions of hens reared by Walston Poultry Farm, a supplier for Noble Foods; and the Happy Egg Co. brand, which is owned by Noble Foods.

The article reports that Kansas farming group and agricultural advocacy Peterson Farm Brothers has responded to billboards strategically placed by animal rights activists by urging U.S. consumers to adopt a vegan lifestyle.