Ag United News
Livestock Groups to Review Animal Care Laws
For Immediate Release - January 20, 2010
An ad hoc group of livestock organizations has announced that it will spend the next year working with state officials, legislators, and other stakeholder groups to review current state laws pertaining to animal care. "As an industry, we think it's important to periodically review our animal care statutes," said Bryan Nagel, President of the SD Cattlemen's Association.
South Dakota's animal care statutes underwent major revisions in 1977and 1991. Livestock organizations in South Dakota, working with the State Veterinarian, spearheaded the 1991 effort to have a comprehensive review of animal care laws. "Since that time, most livestock groups have developed standards of care to protect the well-being of animals. We want to make sure current statutes are consistent with those standards," added Nagel
The SD Cattlemen's Association, SD Pork Producers Council, SD Association of Cooperatives, and SD Farm Bureau are working with the State Veterinarian to conduct an in-depth review of the statutes.
"We think it's important to make sure that animal care statutes reflect the changes in society and agriculture," said State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven. "For example, the statutes in 1939 addressed issues dealing with how work horses were treated. We believe that good policy, based on sound science, will benefit both people and animals."
For more information, contact:
SD Cattlemen's Association, Jodie Hickman - (605) 945-2333
SD Association of Cooperatives, Brenda Forman - (605) 945-2548
SD Farm Bureau Federation, Michael Held - (605) 353-8051
SD Pork Producers Council, Lorin Pankratz - (605) 338-3427
SD Animal Industry Board, Dr. Dustin Oedekoven - (605) 773-3321
