National Pork Producers Council President R.C. Hunt is warning of the high stakes in the hen-cage debate. Oregon 5th District Representative Kurt Schrader has introduced a bill that writes an agreement between the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States to nearly double the cage size for laying hens into federal law. Hunt says approval of this bill would set a dangerous precedent of allowing the federal government to dictate how livestock producers operate. In the end – he says all corners of animal agriculture could be affected.

Hunt says it’s the egg industry’s business if they want to agree with HSUS on hen-housing standards – but when they attempt to put those rules in federal law – it’s the business of everyone in food animal production. He says NPPC’s concern is that if the bill does become law – pressure will mount to set similar federal standards for other species and even for crop farmers. Hunt says it’s possible a broad law under the guise of animal welfare could take away the freedom for producers to operate in ways that are best for their animals – or perhaps farmers who raise corn would be prohibited from using genetically modified seeds.

According to Hunt – H.R. 3798 is an unnecessary, costly and dangerous federal intrusion into day-to-day farm operations that has no benefit to the public or animal health.

Courtesy: NAFB News