National Farm Animals Awareness Week is observed during the third week of September, and its purpose is to raise awareness about the treatment of farm animals by many factory farms. This week was originally created over three decades ago by the Humane Society of the U.S. with the sole intention of encouraging people to consider the treatment of animals by the American food system.

Every year, over 10 billion animals are slaughtered in the United States, and the vast majority of them are raised on factory farms that do not provide the animals with a good quality of life before they are slaughtered and do not pay much attention to whether the animals are humanely killed.

The History Of National Farm Animals Awareness Week

In 1993, the Humane Society of the U.S. launched this week to raise public awareness about the inhumane conditions often found at factory farms and how these animals are not being given the dignity of life they deserve.

Some Interesting Facts About Farm Animals

Let’s take a few moments out of this holiday article to learn more about farm animals. After all, this is National Farm Animals Awareness Week, so we should perhaps learn a few things about these animals. Sound good? If so, then read on and check out the following bullet points:

• Chickens have over 200 distinctive noises they can use to communicate with one another.
• A group of pigs is known as a sounder.
• According to most historians, goats were the first animals to be domesticated.
• Male ducks are known as drakes, and female ducks are known as hens.
• Cows know when storms are coming and will often lie down in anticipation of these storms.
• A female goat is known as a doe.
• Female sheep are known as ewes, and male sheep are known as rams.
• Baby sheep are known as lambs.

Observing National Farm Animals Awareness Week

People who consider themselves animal lovers can take the time to observe this week by learning more about factory farms and how they treat animals, lobbying politicians for improved conditions for farm animals, and spreading the word about this week using the hashtag #NationalFarmAnimalsAwarenessWeek. People can also donate money to organizations that protect animals during this week or fundraise for these organizations.