Change we better believe in

Rachel Kaldor, Executive Director, Dairy Institute of California

California voters were closely divided on whether to ban gay marriage and reform legislative redistricting, but they were unified on one issue: animal welfare. Proposition 2 was sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States. Beginning in 2015, Proposition 2 will require that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that allow these animals to lie down, fully extend their limbs and turn around freely. Proposition 2 was approved by over two-thirds of the state’s voters.

If you work in animal agriculture, it is pretty easy to see where this is going, at least in California. But most of the dairy industry is turning a deaf ear to this looming crisis. And the industry’s response is easy to understand, too. Animal rights activists are often shockingly outrageous. And for agriculture’s part, there are many rebuttal points and reasons why dairy farmers are not “the bad guys.” But letting this crisis swirl around us will not save our industry from an onslaught of animal rights “intervention” and regulation.

Two weeks after the election, I asked our State Veterinarian, Dr. Richard Breitmeyer, to address Dairy Institute members on this critical situation. Breitmeyer delivered a compelling and sobering presentation. I have included some of his points in this article.

For dairy processors, animal rights issues are not new. In the past dozen years, dairy processors have repeatedly received animal welfare inquiries from their customers. Processors have been required by their customers to assure that the products they supply have come from humanely-treated animals.

We know that animal agriculture has a good story to tell, but the industry has done a poor job telling it. And right now, animal rights groups are doing all the talking.

Customers and markets are fragile and fickle. To meet the animal welfare challenge, the industry must make a long-term commitment to keeping the trust of consumers on this issue.

Beginning now, the entire dairy industry must sell both the product and the process. The industry must take the initiative to communicate positive and credible messages. There must be assurance that farm animals are being treated well and that processes are in place to assure safe and high-quality products.

It is true that consumers are conflicted. They endorse humane animal treatment but at the same time insist on convenient, available, cheap food. And ideally, consumers should understand where their food comes from. But the oft-repeated rationale that “if the public knew the importance of agriculture and how highly we value our animals, they would be more tolerant and this animal rights issue would disappear” is a huge distraction from the immediate and costly commitment the industry must make to address it.

By contrast with animal agriculture’s scattered response, animal rights activists have clear goals and objectives. They are patient adversaries, satisfied to win incremental victories. As proof, California’s Proposition 2 moves these activists closer to their goal of ending animal agriculture in our state.

California is once again a bell-weather state, and our recent election results provide fair warning. The dairy industry must force a change in our focus if we are to meet the animal welfare challenge. PD

References omitted but are available upon request at editor@progressivedairy.com

—Reprinted with permission from Cheese Market News, January 2009