News
NPPC president says federal standard bad idea
The president of the National Pork Producers Council says federal livestock standards would be a bad idea. Doug Wolf of Lancaster, Wisconsin tells Brownfield the agreement announced between the animal rights group, HSUS, and the United Egg Producers on enriched cage requirements for all U.S. egg producers goes in the wrong direction.
Wolf tells Brownfield the NPPC opposes any kind of federal legislation on production agriculture practices.
“We’re just afraid it would set some dangerous precedence allowing the federal government to dictate on-farm production practices – and that, of course, including animal housing. So, we definitely oppose any federal legislation.”
The HSUS and United Egg Producers say they support and will push for legislation for national standards – and if that succeeds, the federal law would supercede any state laws on how egg laying hens are housed.
“I think this is their effort – to push it to a federal mandate, thereby having to eliminate each state by state contest. But, I would hope that’s not where it’s going.”
Wolf says it appears this is an HSUS strategy to force one standard on hogs and other livestock.
“Open housing is great – it creates a niche market. If we come up with a federal standard for all people (producers) it’s going to decline some of these niche markets. It’s going to put a higher cost into their food systems. So, we’re just hoping this doesn’t happen.”
Wolf says pork producers don’t need HSUS or any outside group telling them how to take care of their animals. He says that’s because they have industry-adopted and practiced quality assurance and animal welfare standards and the American Veterinary Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians have done the work and approved housing of all types in the swine industry.
Add Comment