Fwd: HumaneSpot Spotlight Selections for March 4, 2009

March 8, 2009

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March 4, 2009

Here are your latest research spotlights from HumaneSpot.org, the world's only research-based website designed exclusively for animal advocates. On behalf of everyone at HRC, thanks for using our research in your work for animals.

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2007 Census of Agriculture

New External Resource, Entered on 3/3/2009

According to this 2007 census (conducted every five years), the total number of farms has increased recently, going from 2.13 million in 2002 to 2.21 million farms in 2007. Compared with all farms nationwide, these new farms tend to be more diverse with fewer acres, lower sales, and younger operators who also work off the farm. This census also provides agricultural statistics for every U.S. county and state.

by United States Department of Agriculture

Details: http://www.humanespot.org/node/3168

Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Mountain Lions: A Public Survey of Residents Adjacent to Saguaro National Park, Arizona

New Research Citation, Entered on 3/3/2009; Original Item from 2005

This survey describes attitudes held by suburban residents near Saguaro National Park in Arizona. Most respondents support mountain lion conservation and the study authors recommend that educational opport

unities be created for the local public to inform residents about mountain lion research and management.

by Human Dimensions of Wildlife

Details: http://www.humanespot.org/node/3175

Estimating the Benefits of Farm Animal Welfare Legislation Using the Contingent Valuation Method

New Research Citation, Entered on 3/2/2009; Original Item from 2003

This study uses the contingent valuation (CV) method to understand the willingness of United Kingdom citizens to pay to support legislation to phase out the use of battery cages for egg production in the European Union (EU).

by Agricultural Economics

Details: http://www.humanespot.org/node/3162

What's in a Word (or a Wordle)?

New Blog Entry, HRC-Authored, Entered on 3/1/2009

In my last post I talked about using the principles of information design to convey the meaning behind statistical data in a clear and compelling way. One way to visually represent textual data is called a "word cloud," which some of you might be familiar with because it's used to represent the popularity of different tags on sides like Digg.com. Mostly just for fun, I recently used Wordle.net to create two images. The first image represents more than 3,000 responses to a survey question that asked people for the first words that came to mind when they think of the animal protection movement. The second image shows all of the words contained in the last six months of these blog posts.

Details: http://www.humanespot.org/node/3188

Dutch Consumers Want End to Killing Layer Males

New Research Citation, Entered on 3/1/2009; Original Item from 2009

Sixty percent of the public in the Netherlands wants the industry to implement an alternative to the killing of day-old male chicks from layer flocks, according to a survey published by Wageningen University.

by Meat & Poultry

Details: http://www.humanespot.org/node/3161

An Examination of Changes in Oxytocin Levels in Men and Women Before and After Interaction with a Bonded Dog

New Research C

itation, Entered on 2/28/2009; Original Item from 2008

Based on observed changes in the oxytocin levels in men and women in response to interaction with their dog after being separated while at work all day, this study found no increase in oxytocin level in men after interaction with the "bonded" dog, suggesting that men and women may have different responses to interaction with their dogs.

by Anthrozoos

Details: http://www.humanespot.org/node/3156