Supporters of animal agriculture—of the sort that can feed people inexpensively and on a large scale, at least—are reeling after two stinging defeats last month.
The first blow came in Massachusetts, where residents voted to adopt Question 3, which mandates a minimum cage size for raising livestock on farms in the state, around the country, and around the world that sell eggs, pork, and veal in Massachusetts. That law effectively means chickens, pigs, and veal calves must be raised in a “cage-free” environment. The second blow came with the defeat of an appeal in federal court challenging a similar law in California.
The purpose of the California law is to “to prohibit the cruel confinement of farm animals.” Similarly, the Massachusetts law is intended to “to prevent animal cruelty.” The latter also claims that caged livestock “threaten the health and safety of Massachusetts consumers, increase the risk of foodborne illness, and have negative fiscal impacts on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Baylen Linnekin explains the actual bad consequences of these laws.
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