The Issues
Proposed Legislation and Public Policy
State Legislation
Oregon Governor Signs Bill to Ban Gestation Crates (S.B. 694)
Gestation
crates are among the cruelest forms of intensive confinement in use by the factory
farming system. The 2-by-7-foot wide crates are barely larger than the
breeding sows they confine, and they prevent the pigs from turning around
or lying down comfortably. Living most of their lives in this manner,
the pigs develop extensive leg and joint disorders as well as a litany
of psychological neuroses that arise from spending their lives immobilized
between steel bars and concrete floors.
Gestation crates have been banned in both Florida and Arizona,
while veal crates have been banned in Arizona. In January 2007, the largest
factory pig farming corporation in the U.S., Smithfield,
announced that it will be phasing out the use of cruel gestation crates
as well, due in much part to consumer wishes for more humane treatment
of animals raised for food.
Sponsored by the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee, S.B.
694 would make the restrictive confinement of pigs an offense
punishable by a maximum of one year's imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
Pigs would be required to be able to turn around freely and
to lie down while fully extending their limbs, meaning "having the
ability to turn in a complete circle in an enclosure without an impediment,
including a tether, and without touching any side of the enclosure."
While this seems quite basic, gestation crates do not allow
these simple and natural behaviors.
On Thursday, April 26, the Oregon Senate overwhelmingly passed S.B. 694 by a vote of 20-9. On June 11, the House approved the bill by a vote of 32-25 , and on Thursday, June 28, Governor Kulongoski signed S.B. 694 into law, making Oregon the third state to ban cruel gestation crates and the first to do so by legislative measure. You can thank Governor Kulongoski for signing this historic, humane measure for farm animals by contacting him at:
Governor Kulongoski
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, Oregon 97301-4047
Phone: 503-378-4582
Fax: 503-378-6827
or send him an email through his website: http://www.governor.state.or.us/Gov/contact_us.shtml
In the News
OPB News - June 28, 2007
Kulongoski Signs Ban On Pig Breeding 'Gestation Crates'
KOIN News - June 28, 2007
Oregon Leads With Farm Animal Cruelty Law
The
Oregonian - June 11, 2007
House frees the pregnant pigs
The
Oregonian - April 26, 2007
Senate frees the pregnant pigs
Salem-News
- April 26, 2007
Oregon Senate Passes Bill Taking Aim at Practice Considered One of Factory
Farming’s Worst Abuses
For
more information, please contact campaign@farmsanctuary.org
or call 607-583-2225 ext 251.
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