Animal rights groups allege cruelty in state regulations

By EVAN BERLAND
Associated Press Writer

July 20, 2004, 5:25 PM EDT

TRENTON, N.J. -- New standards for the treatment of livestock in New Jersey allow animals to be treated inhumanely and flout the Legislature's command for better conditions, charged a lawsuit filed Tuesday by animal rights organizations and organic farmers.

"The word 'humane' means marked by compassion, sympathy or consideration for animals," said Barbara Dyer, a program coordinator for The Humane Society of the United States. "There is nothing humane about these standards."

The regulations became effective June 7, about nine years after the state Legislature passed a law requiring the state Department of Agriculture to adopt and enforce "the humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing and sale of domestic livestock."

The Agriculture Department issued a statement Tuesday noting that 6,000 public comments were received as the standards were crafted and that the regulations will be reviewed constantly.

"We respect the right of those persons who object to or advocate for changes to animal agriculture practices. We believe, however, that we have set the appropriate standard for humane treatment of livestock," the statement reads.

The lawsuit by the animal rights groups and farmers, filed in Superior Court in Trenton, asks the court to revoke the standards because they do not carry out the mandate of the Legislature.

"Basically we're seeking an order to set aside these regulations and to direct the Department of Agriculture to take another stab at issuing the regulations that provide for the humane treatment of farm animals," said Katherine Meyer, an attorney for the Washington, D.C.-based firm working on the lawsuit.

Opponents of the standards pointed to several regulations with which they found particular fault, such as the trimming of chickens' beaks and the confinement of pregnant sows and calves being raised for veal. The regulations also allow for induced molting, a process through which poultry is denied food and water, which leads to increased egg quality.

"Instead of preventing cruelty and abuse, and supporting farmers who want to engage in good animal husbandry practices, these regulations actually endorse inhumane farming practices," said Juan George, who raises beef cattle in Farmingdale in Monmouth County.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press