State Bill to Ban Gestation Stalls Moves Ahead (updated)
September 5, 2012 —
Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill that would impose a penalty on farmers who use such equipment as gestation stalls.
Last Thursday the Massachusetts House of Representatives ordered another reading of H.458, which would penalize farmers "for the confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs."
Sponsored by Rep. Jason Lewis, the bill would apply to producers of pigs, cattle and chickens (among other animals). Violators would face fines of up to $1,000 in addition to a maximum of 180 days in jail.
Three states (Orgeon, Maine and Florida) have already banned the use of gestation stalls in hog production and six more (California, Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, Rhode Island and Ohio) have set deadlines for doing so in the future.
Source:MeatingPlace.com, 8/27/2012
By Michael Fielding
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