Idaho takes an animal activist lesson from Ohio

Monday, April 5, 2010

Last month, the Senate in the state of Idaho approved a bill to set up a livestock care standards board. It's a move similar to one made in Ohio (see Short Takes, Better Farming, Dec. 2009) where a board was established with a set number of veterinarians and farm group representatives. The board in Ohio sets standards for animal care and health and environmental standards as well.

As in Ohio, the state aimed to set animal welfare laws before the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) got to influence them. The bill must still pass the Idaho House of Representatives. According to a local newspaper, legislators anticipate that the chicken raising industry will grow in Idaho.

The HSUS hasn't given up on Ohio. In February, animal activists started gathering signatures to put a referendum on the November ballot that would require the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to adopt certain animal treatment practices for veal, pig and layer hen production. The group needs 600,000 signatures. BF