By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two years ago the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board was created. Today, that board has put in place standards by which livestock producers must abide.

“The board first held listening sessions in all areas of the state to get input from people from across the state, and from these sessions the board created standards for livestock,” said Erica Pitchford, Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Public Information Officer.

“The board has now formed standards on such things as welfare of animals, standards on how to euthanize livestock and standards for the care of various animals and livestock.”

In 2009 Ohioans overwhelmingly supported the passage of State Issue 2, approving the creation of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.

It is comprised of 13 members, consisting of the ODA director as chair, 10 members appointed by the governor and a selection from both the state Senate President and the House Speaker. The board’s purpose was to create standards for the care and well-being of livestock in Ohio.

According to Pitchford, the board seeks to serve Ohioans by creating comprehensive livestock care standards that will not only assure better livestock care, but will also support the state’s overarching policies to promote safe and affordable food, help prevent the outbreak of animal and human diseases and encourage local food production.

Ohio’s livestock care standards affect all people raising or caring for one or more head of livestock raised for human food or fiber, and anyone raising or caring for equines in the state. Rules affecting the care of dairy, beef, swine, turkeys, broilers, sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas and horses have been approved by the Ohio General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review and will go into effect later this year.

“Our goal is now to go out to the public and educate folks what these standards are so they understand how they’re supposed to be caring for their livestock,” Pitchford said. “Instead of a listening session, these are more of an educational forum. There will be presentations on general welfare and staff available to answer any specific questions that people might have. The Division of Animal Health can answer questions as well.”

The ODA will be responsible for any investigation and enforcement. Those found in violation of the standards will face civil penalties.

“These standards are not laws, they’re administrative rules,” Pitchford points out. “We will work with and educate people who are out of compliance and help bring them into compliance. We want to help them understand why it’s important to abide by these rules. The point is to educate them about the new rules.”
According to Pitchford, anyone who cannot attend any of the scheduled meetings may download and print the standards from the ODA website.

Farmers, veterinarians and livestock haulers are among many expected to attend one of five informational sessions to be held in August and September by the ODA. The meetings are open to the public and will feature a presentation on the new livestock care standards, as well as an opportunity to ask the ODA staff questions about the new rules.

Two-hour sessions are scheduled in Allen, Highland, Mercer, Muskingum and Wayne counties. Upcoming dates for these special meetings are:

Aug. 24 – Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro

Aug. 31 – Ohio State University Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center’s Shisler Center Ballroom, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster

Sept. 14 – Independence Elementary School, 615 Tremont Ave., Lima

Sept. 27 – Ohio University-Zanesville campus, 1425 Newark Rd., Zanesville

Sept. 29 – American Legion, 2490 state Route 49 North, Fort Recovery

All meetings will be from 6-8 p.m. For more information, contact Pitchford at 614-728-6211.