September 2009 Articles

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Animal Welfare Group Continues to Target the Poultry and Livestock Industries

Animal Welfare Group Continues to Target the Poultry and Livestock Industries
Theresia Lavergne, Ph.D., P.A.S. Associate Professor- LSU AgCenter Will Ohio be the next state with a ballot initiative concerning confinement of poultry and livestock? The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) representatives are discussing poultry and livestock confinement with animal industry leaders in Ohio. The HSUS says they are considering a ballot initiative, for Ohio, similar to Prop 2 in California (passed in November 2008). The HSUS also gave Ohio the option of developing their own animal welfare guidelines in lieu of HSUS taking the issue to ballot. HSUS wants the state to phase out laying hen cages, sow gestation stalls, and veal crates. The group may be targeting Ohio because of the size of its poultry and hog industries. Ohio is the second largest egg producing state with 28 million laying hens, and ranks ninth in hog production. Also, there may be voter support for an animal welfare initiative. According to an Ohio State University survey, 90% of respondents agreed that it is important that farm animals are well cared for, 85% believed the quality of life is important even for meat animals, and 81% indicated that the well-being of farm animals is as important as pets. Animal welfare groups have targeted other states in the past and voters have passed welfare laws. In 2002, Florida voters approved Amendment 10 by a 54% vote. Arizona voters approved Proposition 204 in 2006 with a 62% vote. And, most recently, California voters approved Proposition 2 with a 63% vote in 2008. Also, Colorado animal industry leaders have agreed to a legislative compromise on animal welfare issues instead of allowing a ballot initiative. The passage of these animal welfare laws illustrates the distance between the voter and production agriculture. The consumer (voting public) does not seem to understand how poultry and livestock are cared for. Therefore, animal industry leaders in Ohio are working to inform the public about animal production practices. The rest of the states need to join in the effort to provide poultry and animal production information to the public -- instead of allowing HSUS to say how poultry and livestock should be raised. (Source: Feedstuffs, April 20, 2009)