Meat + Poultry - December 2008 - 39

Egg Producers spokesman Mitch Head
said that even if the initiative passed,
there would be no need for panic. "The
wording is so vague, there will have to
be regulations written to define exactly what the law means," he said. "You
might not know this from the campaign, but the proposition does not say
you have to have so much space per
bird or that you can't use cages. It only
mentions movement." He pointed out
that the final regulations would likely
be worked out in the California legislature and by the state's department of
agriculture. "I imagine everyone" - including the industry - "would have input on those negotiations."
Opponents asserted modern systems
for housing laying hens were designed for
proper care and treatment of the animals
and provided ample space, food, light and
sanitation. They pointed out cage-free
housing may expose hens and eggs to
greater risk of coming into contact with
Salmonella bacteria. Also, if laying hens
were to be housed out of doors even for
a portion of the day, incidental contact
with migratory birds may raise the risk of
hens contracting avian influenza or other diseases. Opponents also pointed out
California statutes already prohibit cruelty
to animals and apply penalties to those
found to be violating the law.

S i n c e 1907

The cost of changing to cage-free or
other alternative housing methods was
estimated in the hundreds of millions of
dollars. Some farmers may face additional
costs related to acquisition of land to accommodate flocks at the current sizes.
Agricultural economists at the Univ.
of California, Davis, estimated costs of
egg production would be 20 percent
higher in cage-free systems than in
battery-cage systems because of higher
feed costs, higher hen mortality, higher
direct housing costs and higher labor
costs. Higher production costs would
require higher egg prices to the consumer, and higher-priced California
eggs would be at a competitive disadvantage when compared with eggs produced in neighboring states or in Mexico, where farmers wouldn't be required
to abandon battery-cage systems.
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO
of the Humane Society of the U.S., said,
"California voters have taken a stand for
decency and compassion and said that
the systemic mistreatment of animals
on factory farms cannot continue. All
animals deserve humane treatment, including animals raised for food."
Matt Sampson, a spokesman for Californians for Safe Food, which organized the opposition to Proposition 2,
said, "The special interest group that

pushed Proposition 2 will now go back
to Washington and leave it to California's farmers, veterinarians, regulators and lawyers to interpret what this
poorly-conceived and vaguely-worded
initiative actually means for the real
people it affects."
The United Egg Producers' Head
points out that two years ago, the Humane Society successfully campaigned
in Arizona against confinement pens
for sows. "The pattern is clear," he said.
"HSUS is trying to march state by state,
commodity by commodity."
Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said, "The
realities of modern, family-owned and
family-operated agriculture and the professional dedication of our farm families
are largely not understood by America's
consumers. As an industry, we must help
non-farmers understand our industry.
While caring for their animals is the clear
No. 1 priority for America's livestock producers, it is also clear correcting misinformation from those opposed to modern
farming is a close second."
Jay Sjerven is senior editor covering markets with
Sosland Publishing Co.'s Food Business News,
M&P's sister publication.
We would like to hear from you - to comment on
this story or to request reprints, contact us by
e-mail at: meatpoultry@sosland.com.

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