This fall, California voters will weigh in on the issue of how some farm animals are caged. The Secretary of State says an initiative that's sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States has qualified for the November ballot.
The measure would require that egg-laying hens, calves raised for veal and pregnant pigs cannot be confined in a way that prevents them from lying down, turning around or extending their limbs.
Paul Shapiro is with the
Humane Society
. He cites a recent expose by the organization on the treatment of beef cattle at a Chino slaughterhouse. He says that likely resonated with voters who signed petitions to place the measure on the ballot.
Shapiro: With that investigation the Humane Society of the United States exposed the treatment of some animals at slaughter plants, but there is also routine mistreatment of animals while they're on the factory farm.
Opponents say the measure would largely affect the egg industry in California and a group has formed to fight the initiative. It's called Californians for Sound Farm Animal Agriculture and is funded by egg farmers and ranchers. It says the effort would expose hens to predators and disease and would result in higher egg prices.
