Martin Gould
@martinvgould.bsky.social
Working on farm animal welfare research and grants at Open Philanthropy🐔📈 Views my own. Interested in economics, policy and bouldering
Reposted by Martin Gould
I know there's a lot going on, but occasionally it's good to remind people that billions of animals suffer in crazy conditions in factory farms. In the U.S. it's gotten worse / denser in recent yrs, contrary to popular conception.
https://www.palladiummag.com/2025/11/01/factory-farming-is-a-blight/
https://www.palladiummag.com/2025/11/01/factory-farming-is-a-blight/
November 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I know there's a lot going on, but occasionally it's good to remind people that billions of animals suffer in crazy conditions in factory farms. In the U.S. it's gotten worse / denser in recent yrs, contrary to popular conception.
https://www.palladiummag.com/2025/11/01/factory-farming-is-a-blight/
https://www.palladiummag.com/2025/11/01/factory-farming-is-a-blight/
Canada really lags other high income countries when it comes to the share of egg-laying hens out of cages
As an example, Costco is 97% cage-free in the US but only 21% in Canada
As an example, Costco is 97% cage-free in the US but only 21% in Canada
November 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Canada really lags other high income countries when it comes to the share of egg-laying hens out of cages
As an example, Costco is 97% cage-free in the US but only 21% in Canada
As an example, Costco is 97% cage-free in the US but only 21% in Canada
Meat company Tyson has a "Open Prairie: Natural Meats" brand which you might assume means the animals are on an: "open prairie" in their "natural" environment
But in Tyson's own FAQs...
But in Tyson's own FAQs...
October 31, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Meat company Tyson has a "Open Prairie: Natural Meats" brand which you might assume means the animals are on an: "open prairie" in their "natural" environment
But in Tyson's own FAQs...
But in Tyson's own FAQs...
"...preventing an hour of intense pain in chickens costs less than a hundredth of a cent"
October 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
"...preventing an hour of intense pain in chickens costs less than a hundredth of a cent"
Exciting to see farm animal welfare philanthropy covered in the
@ssir.org, and to read the reflections of @davidcomanhidy and @CampionShan on how donors can make a difference
@ssir.org, and to read the reflections of @davidcomanhidy and @CampionShan on how donors can make a difference
October 29, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Exciting to see farm animal welfare philanthropy covered in the
@ssir.org, and to read the reflections of @davidcomanhidy and @CampionShan on how donors can make a difference
@ssir.org, and to read the reflections of @davidcomanhidy and @CampionShan on how donors can make a difference
New comparison showing how small the farm animal movement is — there are many many opportunities for outsized impact
October 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
New comparison showing how small the farm animal movement is — there are many many opportunities for outsized impact
"...bird flu cases are again starting to increase, suggesting we may be headed into another ramp-up in infections. If rising egg prices catch us off guard this winter, it’ll be quite an achievement—after all, we changed nothing and somehow expected a different result."
October 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"...bird flu cases are again starting to increase, suggesting we may be headed into another ramp-up in infections. If rising egg prices catch us off guard this winter, it’ll be quite an achievement—after all, we changed nothing and somehow expected a different result."
Was the Consumer Reports analysis of protein powders bad science?
1. Their daily lead limits are nonsensically low
2. They don't compare protein powders to the protein/foods they replace
3. They only test each powder 2-3 times, which isn't enough given variation between batches
1. Their daily lead limits are nonsensically low
2. They don't compare protein powders to the protein/foods they replace
3. They only test each powder 2-3 times, which isn't enough given variation between batches
October 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Was the Consumer Reports analysis of protein powders bad science?
1. Their daily lead limits are nonsensically low
2. They don't compare protein powders to the protein/foods they replace
3. They only test each powder 2-3 times, which isn't enough given variation between batches
1. Their daily lead limits are nonsensically low
2. They don't compare protein powders to the protein/foods they replace
3. They only test each powder 2-3 times, which isn't enough given variation between batches
Touching story of a father and daughter realizing they want nothing to do with one of the cruelest practices in modern farming
October 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Touching story of a father and daughter realizing they want nothing to do with one of the cruelest practices in modern farming
As we enter the cooler months, we may see an uptick in bird flu cases, after the lull of summer
October 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
As we enter the cooler months, we may see an uptick in bird flu cases, after the lull of summer
A striking quote in Bloomberg from the president of the World’s Poultry Science Association, an industry group, about modern meat chickens:
October 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
A striking quote in Bloomberg from the president of the World’s Poultry Science Association, an industry group, about modern meat chickens:
There aren't many groups who support overturning US state-based cage bans, which provide hens and pigs with more room to move and express natural behaviors
August 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
There aren't many groups who support overturning US state-based cage bans, which provide hens and pigs with more room to move and express natural behaviors
New research finds little shelters for chickens (pic below), increase welfare and don't cause the chickens to produce less meat
Easy win for welfare if the industry wants to take it...
Easy win for welfare if the industry wants to take it...
August 21, 2025 at 9:58 PM
New research finds little shelters for chickens (pic below), increase welfare and don't cause the chickens to produce less meat
Easy win for welfare if the industry wants to take it...
Easy win for welfare if the industry wants to take it...
Factory farm mortality rates are so high that 4.4 million tonnes of US animal feed are wasted and produce zero meat
Post by @robert_yaman
Post by @robert_yaman
August 21, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Factory farm mortality rates are so high that 4.4 million tonnes of US animal feed are wasted and produce zero meat
Post by @robert_yaman
Post by @robert_yaman
A new survey of 986 U.S. chicken consumers shows how little people know about the meat they eat
Only 10% knew what “stunning" is, the process meant to render chickens unconscious before killing. 3.5% could name the methods used (electric shock or gas)
Only 10% knew what “stunning" is, the process meant to render chickens unconscious before killing. 3.5% could name the methods used (electric shock or gas)
August 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A new survey of 986 U.S. chicken consumers shows how little people know about the meat they eat
Only 10% knew what “stunning" is, the process meant to render chickens unconscious before killing. 3.5% could name the methods used (electric shock or gas)
Only 10% knew what “stunning" is, the process meant to render chickens unconscious before killing. 3.5% could name the methods used (electric shock or gas)
Pig can't be kept as pets in most US cities, due in part to the lack of an approved pig rabies vaccine
USDA approves vaccine -> more people have pigs as pets -> farm animal welfare movement grows
USDA approves vaccine -> more people have pigs as pets -> farm animal welfare movement grows
August 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Pig can't be kept as pets in most US cities, due in part to the lack of an approved pig rabies vaccine
USDA approves vaccine -> more people have pigs as pets -> farm animal welfare movement grows
USDA approves vaccine -> more people have pigs as pets -> farm animal welfare movement grows
This article from 2010 helps you appreciate how far we've come. The share of hens in cages in the US is now 54%
August 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
This article from 2010 helps you appreciate how far we've come. The share of hens in cages in the US is now 54%
Most shoppers care about farm animal welfare
In a new UK survey (n=2,334):
• 90% said welfare was important
• 52% picked it as a top 3 factor when buying meat/eggs
But consumers face real-world barriers
In a new UK survey (n=2,334):
• 90% said welfare was important
• 52% picked it as a top 3 factor when buying meat/eggs
But consumers face real-world barriers
June 27, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Most shoppers care about farm animal welfare
In a new UK survey (n=2,334):
• 90% said welfare was important
• 52% picked it as a top 3 factor when buying meat/eggs
But consumers face real-world barriers
In a new UK survey (n=2,334):
• 90% said welfare was important
• 52% picked it as a top 3 factor when buying meat/eggs
But consumers face real-world barriers
There's something quite sad reading about the invention of cages for egg-laying hens
The technology just didn't exist until the 1930s, and then swept the world in a couple of decades
The technology just didn't exist until the 1930s, and then swept the world in a couple of decades
June 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
There's something quite sad reading about the invention of cages for egg-laying hens
The technology just didn't exist until the 1930s, and then swept the world in a couple of decades
The technology just didn't exist until the 1930s, and then swept the world in a couple of decades
This machine rakes up chickens to truck them to slaughter
Tens of thousands of birds are kept in giant barns, and picking them up is a huge logistical challenge
But this machine is actually more humane than standard industry practice 🧵
Tens of thousands of birds are kept in giant barns, and picking them up is a huge logistical challenge
But this machine is actually more humane than standard industry practice 🧵
June 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM
This machine rakes up chickens to truck them to slaughter
Tens of thousands of birds are kept in giant barns, and picking them up is a huge logistical challenge
But this machine is actually more humane than standard industry practice 🧵
Tens of thousands of birds are kept in giant barns, and picking them up is a huge logistical challenge
But this machine is actually more humane than standard industry practice 🧵
Can a movie clip cause people to shun meat? Most studies say no, but...
A 15-min excerpt from hard-hitting documentary 'Dominion' cut meat meal demand by 27%, and even 1 week later, meat demand was down 13%
A 15-min excerpt from hard-hitting documentary 'Dominion' cut meat meal demand by 27%, and even 1 week later, meat demand was down 13%
May 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Can a movie clip cause people to shun meat? Most studies say no, but...
A 15-min excerpt from hard-hitting documentary 'Dominion' cut meat meal demand by 27%, and even 1 week later, meat demand was down 13%
A 15-min excerpt from hard-hitting documentary 'Dominion' cut meat meal demand by 27%, and even 1 week later, meat demand was down 13%
A haunting picture from a foie gras duck farm in France
📷 Pierre Parcoeur, We Animals
📷 Pierre Parcoeur, We Animals
May 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
A haunting picture from a foie gras duck farm in France
📷 Pierre Parcoeur, We Animals
📷 Pierre Parcoeur, We Animals
175 million fewer day-old chicks were slaughtered in the egg industry over the last 4 years due to in-ovo sexing
The technology is growing extremely fast in the EU; from 2% market share 3 years ago to 26-30% now
The technology is growing extremely fast in the EU; from 2% market share 3 years ago to 26-30% now
May 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
175 million fewer day-old chicks were slaughtered in the egg industry over the last 4 years due to in-ovo sexing
The technology is growing extremely fast in the EU; from 2% market share 3 years ago to 26-30% now
The technology is growing extremely fast in the EU; from 2% market share 3 years ago to 26-30% now
After extreme animal cruelty was exposed at a UK farm 11 days ago, the share price of the company that owns the farm dropped 9%
Today, Cranswick's share price is higher than it was pre-expose. Here's a 🧵 on why ↓
Today, Cranswick's share price is higher than it was pre-expose. Here's a 🧵 on why ↓
May 22, 2025 at 3:07 AM
After extreme animal cruelty was exposed at a UK farm 11 days ago, the share price of the company that owns the farm dropped 9%
Today, Cranswick's share price is higher than it was pre-expose. Here's a 🧵 on why ↓
Today, Cranswick's share price is higher than it was pre-expose. Here's a 🧵 on why ↓
tbh thought it'd take longer before we had to worry about factory farming expanding to space
"... should the world’s space agencies decide to build a moon base, Lunar Hatch will be able to put sea bass on the menu at least twice a week."
"... should the world’s space agencies decide to build a moon base, Lunar Hatch will be able to put sea bass on the menu at least twice a week."
April 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
tbh thought it'd take longer before we had to worry about factory farming expanding to space
"... should the world’s space agencies decide to build a moon base, Lunar Hatch will be able to put sea bass on the menu at least twice a week."
"... should the world’s space agencies decide to build a moon base, Lunar Hatch will be able to put sea bass on the menu at least twice a week."