Most say a farm animal moving away signals it doesn't consent
Core finding
Most Americans (71%) agree that a farm animal moving away from a human's touch means it does not consent to being handled, including 17% who strongly agree, according to a Verasight survey of 512 U.S. adults conducted May 11, 2026.
One-in-five (20%) neither agree nor disagree, and just 9% disagree, including 1% who strongly disagree.
Topline scale
Most say a farm animal moving away signals it doesn't consent.
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: If a farm animal moves away when a human attempts to handle it, that means the animal does not consent to being handled.
n = 512 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±4.6%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 512 |
| Margin of error | ±4.6% |
| Module | daily_life |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: If a farm animal moves away when a human attempts to handle it, that means the animal does not consent to being handled.
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=512 US adults age 18+, +/- 4.6%.