Egg Lobbyists Battle Prop 2
12 June 2009
by Anai Rhoads
AnaiRhoads.org -- The Association of California Egg Farmers (ACEF) called upon the state Legislature Thursday questioning the standards for housing egg-laying hens. According to the ACEF, the egg industry farmers may be confused by the mandates in Proposition 2, the ballot measure Californians approved last year.
The Standards for Confining Farm Animals (Proposition 2) passed with 63.5 percent of the vote in 2008. The ballot measure created new mandates on how egg-laying hens should be housed. Some egg farmers however, claim the language in the initiative is too "vague and weak."
Proposition 2 clearly states that it "strictly prohibits 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." Egg industry farmers are using this statement to delay making the changes necessary, claiming that it says nothing about approximate space needed to house the hens.
ACEF was created less than a month ago by California egg farmers and lobbyists who are in opposition of Proposition 2. This statewide industry trade association advocates the continuation of inhumane practices in the egg industry. The members are notorious for lobbying heavily against any progress for the animals in order to cut costs.
"California's egg farmers need clear, legally enforceable standards in this legislation because of the substantial financial requirements they may face to comply with Proposition 2, the time and expense involved in obtaining permits and modifying enclosures, the potential for severe criminal penalties and the alterations in husbandry practices that may be necessary," said Debbie Murdock, ACEF Executive Director.
Murdock previously worked for the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association (PePa). PePa is a regional "non-profit" agricultural trade association, in other words - a lobby group that was created by the egg and poultry industry.
In order to avoid animal welfare groups, PePa and ACEF have screened events, and ACEF is so new that there is not even a web site online for them. If someone wants to get information on PePa's events for example, one has to call them.
It came as no surprise when ACEF's new executive director, Murdock, refused to publish a letter she sent to Assembly Member Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, lobbying against further restrictions on industrial egg farmers today.
The California Legislature is currently considering a proposed bill by Huffman, called AB 1437, to strengthen the original legislation. Huffman introduced the bill this year, which requires all out-of-state producers comply with Proposition 2. ACEF sent Huffman a letter today opposing AB 1437.
Representatives met with the authors of Proposition 2 in order to clarify these new standards. ACEF claims the results of these meetings ended with the same conclusion - Proposition 2 does not ban the use of cages to house egg-laying hens, but that hens are required to have a "little more space."
In order to maximise space and provide efficient production, the cages themselves are stacked like steps, one on top of the other. The only advantage the hens on the top row have is that they do not receive a steady rain of faeces.
Hens are typically forced to moult to increase egg production. This process involves starving the chickens of natural daylight, and restriction of food and water. Aside from the obvious sanitary issues, this "forced moulting" has been shown to increase humans' risk of contracting salmonella poisoning from the eggs and from the hens themselves.
According to the Journal of Applied Poultry Research, the withdrawal of feed from commercial egg production hens leads to a conventional moult within a 10 day feed withdrawal. Restricting and/or eliminating feed from the hens - something we consider starvation, is the industry's method of choice when it comes to inducing a hen's moulting state.
Artificially manipulating this natural process, forces hens to lay eggs for up to 10 months. This non-stop production, is then followed by slaughter when the hens are no longer considered useful.
The fines associated with not complying with the Proposition 2 regulations include up to $1,000 per violation for the farmers and any employees involved and/or a six-month jail sentence.
California's egg farmers have 19.4 million egg-laying hens which produce over 4.9 billion eggs annually, making the state the fifth largest egg producer in the country. Profits from the exploitation of these animals generate more than $300 million per year, yet egg farmers still battle Proposition 2 at every turn in order to maximise their bank accounts.
| 
