Inside This Issue:
- Research on Hen Housing Provides a Lesson on the Nuances of Egg Production
- A Giraffe in the Ointment: Reexamining the Exotic Animal Trade in Ancient Rome
- The 8,000-Year-Old Pig
- News Bites: Educational Petting Zoo; Bird Docs Needed; Criminally Bad Animal Care; and More!
Research on Hen Housing Provide Lesson in the Nuances of Egg Production.
Which one of these chickens is happiest?
For decades, it seemed like the only time you’d hear about eggs was when a new study came out claiming eggs were either going to send you to an early grave or that they were a healthy source of protein and other nutrients. Groups like PeTA naturally latch on to any findings that can be used to paint eggs in a bad light, as a way of bolstering their moral opposition to non-vegan diets (“see, it’s not only immoral to eat eggs – they'll KILL you!”). Meanwhile, research pointing out the health benefits of eggs (there’s quite a lot of that available now) is inevitably used as an excuse to share highly Instagramable recipes or to perform delicious experiments – perhaps with yourself as a guinea pig!
For the last year, most of what we’ve heard about eggs hasn’t been about their nutritional value, so much as their supply and – especially – price (though prices have come down recently). And along with that anxiety (eggxiety?) people’s interest in farming their own eggs, and curiosity about how eggs are produced on a larger scale has grown.
So how do you raise chickens? Well, there are a lot of ways and distinctions: battery cages, cage-free, enriched environments, antibiotic-free, outdoor access, free-range, organic, etc. etc. “Cage-free” is a label with growing popularity right now – up from 4% of sales in 2010 to 40% in 2024. But as with most facets of animal agriculture, the production and welfare aspects of raising chickens aren't black and white in nature – or, as new research out of North Carolina State suggests, brown and white. In a fascinating study of hens in cage-free environments, it was discovered that brown strains of hen laid more and higher quality eggs in a cage-free environment than their “flightier” white brethren. These findings suggest that while the popular trend is currently toward egg producers being able to put a “cage-free” label on their product, farmers would be wise to consider what sort of housing they actually own right now when choosing their hens, and factor that into their choice. Because an environment that works for one strain of hen might be stressful for another, and vice-versa.
While these findings provide a potential lesson in egg production, in a broader sense, they are a reminder of how case-by-case – and messy – animal care and welfare can be. It probably seems like common sense to anyone who works with animals that different breeds or strains of the same species may respond differently to the same stimuli and environments (as can individual animals of the same breed or strain, further complicating matters!). However, research like this recent study from NC State goes beyond common sense; it brings actual numbers – how many eggs, their size and shell thickness, etc. – to help lay (sorry) a clear and fact-based framework for animal care.
Source: What Comes First: The Chicken or The Housing for a Cage-Free Egg?
A Giraffe in the Ointment: Reexamining the Exotic Animal Trade in Ancient Rome
A disapproving West African giraffe.
Humans have always been captivated by animals. Not just the familiar animals at home, but the wild and mysterious creatures that spark our imagination. For thousands of years, people have collected, traded, and displayed exotic animals, driven by curiosity and the thrill of encountering something entirely new. Recent excavations led by Professor Steven Ellis from the University of Cincinnati shed new light on this fascination in ancient Pompeii. Working in the Porta Stabia neighborhood, Ellis and his team uncovered a bustling commercial district frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The area, packed with shops and gathering spaces, has become a treasure trove for archaeologists, offering up hundreds of thousands of artifacts from over a thousand properties.
One of the most revealing finds came not from grand monuments, but from the humble drains of restaurants and kitchens. By analyzing ancient food scraps, researchers pieced together what people in Pompeii ate. Their diets ranged from local fare to exotic spices. But nothing matched the shock of finding a butchered giraffe leg among the remains – a rare delicacy to be sure. Imagine seeing a giraffe for the first time in a Roman city — its towering neck and strange, spotted form completely unlike anything the locals had known. Such an encounter would have been awe-inspiring, a living symbol of the wider world and its endless possibility. Giraffes once roamed North Africa, but even then, they were rare sights in Italy, likely brought over at great expense for display or feasting. In some eateries, the menu was modest, focused on local fare. Yet others catered to wealthier tastes, offering a dazzling selection of meats, seafood, and spices from far beyond Italy’s borders. These discoveries not only highlight the cosmopolitan nature of ancient Pompeii but also remind us that the desire to see and possess – and yes, eat – the new and extraordinary is as old as civilization itself.
Source: Romans traded exotic animals across empire
The 8,000-Year-Old Pig
Wild Boar.
Eggs, exotic meats… and now pork? Clearly, somebody's hungry. Anyhow, pork, AKA the “other white meat,” has been a staple in human diets for thousands of years. And recent research led by Dartmouth reveals that pigs were first domesticated from wild boars in South China about 8,000 years ago. The study found from analyzing hardened tooth plaque that these early pigs were eating human-cooked foods like rice and yams, as well as scavenging on waste – evidence that they lived closely with humans from the start. Unlike their wild ancestors, which were bigger and more aggressive, the pigs that hung around people gradually became smaller and more docile, adapting to an easier lifestyle near human settlements.
Teeth tell us a lot. Scientists not only study plaque, but also look for signs like tooth crowding, which happens as animals adapt to a life of domestication and often develop smaller jaws. This method has helped reveal when other animals, like sheep, were first domesticated. By analyzing dental remains, researchers piece together ancient diets and lifestyles, shedding light on how farm animals became such a big part of human history. Over generations, this close relationship transformed wild boars into the pigs we know today. This slice of history shows that our relationship with pigs goes way back into the dawn of emerging post Ice Age civilizations. Today, 8000 years later, pork remains a reliable and important source of protein for people around the world.
Source: 8,000-year-old teeth provide evidence that pigs were domesticated from wild boars in South China
News Bites: Educational Petting Zoo; Bird Docs Needed; Criminally Bad Animal Care; and More!
Florida Alligator
Here’s a story about 4-H and Future Farmers of America – so if you’re looking for a respite from the usual gloom and doom of the news, look no further! Don’t worry, that wasn’t a dirty trick – this story, about the San Mateo fair, covers the usual skills and responsibilities learned by the kids who care for 4-H/FFA animals, the timeless human-animal bond, and this time, we even get a petting zoo and pony rides! Awww yeah! Don’t miss out on the animals and the fun – let this cute story serve as a reminder to make it to your next county or state fair!
If you didn’t have “the worldwide demand for pet birds creating a professional growth field” on this year’s bingo card, you are forgiven. It really flew (sorry) under our radar, too, and we like birds! But here we are: the already strained world of veterinary medicine is in great need of avian experts, especially for pet birds, like parrots, cockatiels, and canaries. Thanks to avian influenza, we’ve been fixated on poultry and wildlife, but there’s a whole ‘nother growing class of birds – companions – that need veterinary care, too!
We make a conscious effort to avoid fixating too much on the horror story side of the human-animal bond, but there have been so many dozens of terrible stories this week, at least a few of them need to be covered. Plus, when you read about parents taking a road trip and leaving their kid in charge of an uninhabitable house that is packed to the brim with 39 cats and 3 dogs – and 20 dead cats in an unplugged freezer – it’s not something you can just ignore. Not much to report on the state of the animals or child at this time. The parents have been charged with mistreating the animals and child neglect, and this really brings home the strong correlation between animal and human neglect.
Meanwhile, a horror story of a different kind is unfolding in Alabama, where rescue volunteers arrived to help a woman suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer. The rescuers were expecting to pick up about 15 dogs, but soon realized there were probably closer to 100 dogs on the property, and who-knows-how-many cats. As is common in severe cases of hoarding, the home is pretty much wrecked. Parts of the home reportedly have an entire foot of feces covering the floor – to the point where there are concerns about the floors collapsing. So far, only about 40 of the dogs have been successfully recovered, as these canines are skittish, good runners, and great at hiding in their “nests” within the home’s floorboards, walls, and insulation, but it is hoped that all will be picked up safe and sound before too long. Given her critical health issues, the homeowner will almost certainly not face criminal charges. Sadly, this sounds like an all-too-familiar tragic tale of out-of-control hoarding, where the true extent of the problem is only revealed after an animal owner is forced to leave their home.
And finally, we have a macabre tale out of Florida where a drug investigation transformed into an animal abuse and dog fighting case, complete with an illegally kept 9-foot alligator that was being fed various animals that lived on the property. The subject of the investigation is now facing multiple animal abuse charges on top of the initial drug charges.
Speaking of alligators, this story is also pretty grisly, but it has a miraculous ending. A Florida dog named Zeus went out his doggy door to investigate some sounds, and was dragged – head first! – into the water by a hungry alligator. By all accounts, that gator should have been the end of this guy, but unbelievably, Zeus survived the attack (even the veterinarian who performed the emergency surgery had trouble believing Zeus would survive), and he is now healing up – and the doggy door has been sealed to prevent this from happening again. Get well soon, Zeus!
If you ever thought your pet gecko had a sixth sense, you were right – well, probably not, since you were probably thinking about psychic powers, but new research shows that geckos do have an additional sense – the typical hearing (at least what we consider typical) of land animals, as well as a “parallel input” that allows them to simultaneously hear low vibrations (like a fish) that are well below the threshold of their eardrums. It’s no telekinesis, but it’s still an impressive feat that teaches us a lot about evolution.
Finally, if you’ve ever felt a little sappy or guilty over sharing too many cute animals pics or videos, guess what? You can do it with pride, because you’re actually just “applying a social lubricant” and strengthening everybody’s social bonds – letting people know you care about them. Hold your head high, and hit that "share" button next time you see a cute cat meme. The world needs more people like you!
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Also in the News...
★ Adoptable Animals at ACC Animal Services (Shelter & Rescue Opportunities)
★ Wetzel County Commission Holds Emergency Meeting Regarding Farm Animals (Animal Abuse Investigations & Follow-up Care)
★ How the Old Masters painted animals: dragonfly wings and butterfly dust (Natural History, Animals, and Art)
★ 2 people plead guilty on child and animal sex crimes in Graves Co., officials report (Content Warning; Multiple Counts; Long Sentences)
★ Governor signs Reba’s Law as DA cuts deal with one of two defendants in animal cruelty case (Animal Legislation)
★ 10 of the most interesting stories about animals in Missouri (Tall Tails? No, These Are Real News Stories – And Mostly Bad News)
★ 7 Animals Adapted to Living in Total Darkness (Lists II: Tails from the Dark Side)
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