More companies discontinuing farm-animal confinement.

More companies around the world are adjusting their farm-animal confinement policies, largely in response to U.S. voter-led initiatives and to the implementation of European Union farm-policy reforms.

Forcing chickens, pigs, or young cattle into tight cages, crates, or pens is common in the United States, Europe, and increasingly the developing world. But at a time when 73 percent of emerging human disease originates in animals, placing farm animals in constant close contact has led to bacterial resistance and other health concerns.

Growing public awareness of the challenges associated with animal confinement has led several major grocery stores, fast-food chains, and meat producers to phase out some of these practices. Among U.S. companies that have responded to consumer concern in recent years are Safeway, Burger King, and leading pork producer Smithfield Foods.

The companies are reacting to mounting legislation as well. In the European Union, new laws banning veal cages, breeding pig crates, and windowless "battery cages" for hens went into effect last year. In California, an animal welfare referendum will be held during the November election, which if passed would make it the first U.S. state to outlaw all three confinement practices.

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"These laws ... send a signal to industry all across the country that accelerates progress nationwide," said Paul Shapiro of the Humane Society of the United States. "The problem isn't persuading Americans that crates are inhumane. The problem is getting bills through ... agricultural committees that kill them."