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HSUS pushes animal housing legislation with new video
Story Date: 4/13/2012
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Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 4/12/12
The Humane Society of the United States today promoted animal handling legislation specific to the egg industry — which beef and pork producers fear will have implications for their industries — with a video shot at a Pennsylvania egg farm.
At a news conference in Washington D.C., HSUS officials unveiled a video taken without permission at Kreider Farms in Manheim, Penn., and used the video as a platform to promote H.R. 3798, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012. The legislation was proposed in January, but has yet to find a companion bill in the Senate. Both HSUS and the United Egg Producers support the bill.
“This HSUS-backed legislation would set a dangerous precedent that could let Washington bureaucrats dictate how livestock and poultry producers raise and care for their animals,” said National Pork Producers Council President Doug Wolf in January.
The video, which showed crowded conditions, dead chickens and flies, also singled out Kreider Farms for not supporting the proposed legislation. Of the nation’s 280 million egg-laying hens, Kreider cages approximately 7 million at its four Pennsylvania facilities, located in Manheim, Mt. Joy, Middleton and Lebanon, according to HSUS.
In part, the legislation would double the square inches of space each laying hen is allotted under a new housing system phase-in over 15 to 18 years. The bill has 53 sponsors.
The HSUS officials predicted a companion Senate bill would be introduced “very soon,” but was still in the process of seeking sponsors.
Kreider Farms officials could not be reached for comment.
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