By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While now just part of history, the passing of California’s Proposition 2, known as the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, is continuing to generate heated discussion in the Midwest, as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) makes it clear – its sights are set on making changes in states such as Ohio and Michigan.

To discuss the far-reaching effects of Proposition 2 on the poultry industry, a group of leaders in the animal agriculture industry gathered in a captivating roundtable discussion during the National Institute for Animal Agriculture annual meeting in early April.

“Proposition 2 was seen as a turning point for animal rights – to win in a major agriculture state is a big win for them and now they feel they can take on other states,” said Kay Johnson-Smith, executive director of the Animal Agriculture Alliance. “They have hired employees to take photos and work on farms all in an effort to collect information all with the goal of creating a vegan world.”
Johnson-Smith cited HSUS’s ultimate goal to make meat so expensive that the general consumer can no longer afford it and must go vegan.

“It’s not about animal welfare, it’s about eliminating animal agriculture completely,” she added.

Gail Golab, of the American Veterinary Medical Assoc. is concerned that Prop 2 will snowball into similar ballot initiatives in other states.
“In my opinion Prop 2 is not the way to address the concerns that they are pointing to – there’s a better way to do it,” she said. “This really just derails producers’ efforts to make any changes at all.”
Legally speaking, the legislation includes language to prohibit the confinement of certain farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up and fully extend their limbs. The measure deals with three types of confinement: veal crates, battery cages for layers and sow gestation crates.

With 63 percent of California voters in favor on Nov. 4, 2007, what started as a ballot initiative will be enforced as of Jan. 1, 2015.
Livestock operations have until that date to implement the new space requirements for their animals. Conversations are still underway in regard to specific space requirements; and many believe the legislation may be appealed at the federal level before it becomes a California law.

Lindsey Hill, farm broadcaster for ABN Radio of central Ohio, said, “Ohio (also a state that allows ballot initiatives) is the No. 2 egg producer in the country – so this is a big concern in our state. Wayne Pacelle, (HSUS Executive Director) has made his visit and said they’re coming.”

Golab is concerned that the animal agriculture industry is becoming more reactive than proactive and in the past hasn’t been communicating the issues to the right audience.

“You’re not talking to the people on the other side, the animal agriculture sector needs to create proactive legislation in a way that makes a connection with the American public,” said Golab. “Until that disconnect with consumers and producers is addressed, you’re going to lose the battle.”

Golab also encouraged the group to develop behavorial analysis for producers to utilize on the farm.

“We need to be adaptive to the issue of humane handling and animal welfare concerns and look for the solutions in the middle,” she said.

Citing HSUS’ vegan agenda and history in the European Union, “the EU population didn’t go for the vegan agenda and I doubt the American population will either. We need to take on their behavorial agenda first – and move progressively forward from that point,” said Hill.

Additionally, Dave Harlan of Cargill Inc. pointed out that “we all know that ag isn’t perfect, and there are a few bad actors out there.
There’s things we know are wrong, and it’s these incidents that open up discussion at HSUS and in consumers’ minds. We need to make sure we have our act together and not make ourselves an easy media target.”

Golab suggested that producers develop humane performance standards and explain to consumers why procedures such as dehorning and castration are performed at all.
The consensus of the group was seemingly that the livestock industry needs to develop a unified voice – sending one message from all commodity groups.

“This is a perfect time for HSUS to gain momentum, we realize if HSUS breaks down Ohio’s ag industry, the country breaks down,” said Dr. Tony Forshey, Ohio Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian. “We’re going to cover every angle we can, and it behoves each commodity group to address the bad actors.”
He added that it’s critical for Ohio and other states to create a united front and even consider introducing preventative legislation in the event of a Prop 2-like bill.

“About one out of every seven persons in Ohio are related to agriculture – so it’s about taking it to the grassroots level,” he said. “And we all have the ability to do that through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook.”

Johnson-Smith added that “farmers are good people – but they think this is going to go away and unfortunately it isn’t. We need to put a face on farmers with the animal and show that it’s not a factory job – in most cases it’s a family business. We need to focus on the people with attention on the animals.”

While the group considered developing a resolution to support Ohio in favor of best management practices for its producers, the group eventually ended the conversation, nearly two hours past the time alloted.