A subcommittee of the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture held a wide-ranging hearing in May to review the welfare of animals in agriculture.
A dozen witnesses testified before the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry about improving the welfare of farm animals while protecting the food supply, consumer choice, and biomedical research.
The subcommittee chairman, Rep. Leonard L. Boswell of Iowa, noted in his opening remarks that restaurants are requiring suppliers to meet certain animal welfare standards, and consumers are paying more for products such as cage-free eggs. He said these voluntary changes might or might not be sufficient to fix the problems that some people perceive to exist in animal agriculture.
The ranking minority member, Rep. Robin Hayes of North Carolina, responded that animal agriculture has made great strides in addressing welfare. He then questioned the timing of the hearing because he does not believe that the Farm Bill should include animal welfare.
Dr. Gail Golab, associate director of AVMA’s Animal Welfare Division, testified that "pulling together societal expectations and industry needs means that guidelines for animal care must be both science-based and dynamic. Common sense and science depend on each other to reach sound conclusions on animal welfare."
Barbara Determan, past president of the National Pork Producers Council, testified that America’s pork producers raise their pigs humanely out of moral obligation and to protect their livelihood.
Determan added that the pork industry believes gestation stalls and group housing both provide for the well-being of sows during pregnancy, with each system having advantages and disadvantages. She said mandating any one type of sow housing or changing simply for the sake of change is not necessarily in the best interest of the pig.
Determan said producers do not believe Congress has the expertise to decide which on-farm practices are best for animals, including approaches to antimicrobial use. She said the pork industry has created a program to enhance producer awareness about antimicrobial resistance.
The subcommittee also heard from representatives of the cattle, horse and poultry industries as well as activists Wayne Pacelle and Gene Baur of the Humane Society of the US and Farm Sanctuary respectively.
Source:
The PigSite, June 6, 2007