Humane legislation to prevent cruel veal production
has been introduced in New Jersey. Assembly
bill 329 and Senate
bill 159 would require that calves raised for veal be
given enough room to turn around and be fed a diet sufficient
in iron and fiber.
The veal industry commonly misrepresents the
facts about veal calf welfare. At the New Jersey Senate Economic
Growth Committee hearing on May 10th, 2004, a veal industry
representative claimed that calves raised in group housing
experienced higher sickness and death rates than crated calves.
Click here for a letter from a
dairy industry veterinarian refuting this misinformation.
Currently, calves raised for veal are tethered
in crates in which they cannot walk, turn around, or lie down
comfortably. Additionally, they are fed a diet intentionally
deficient in iron and fiber, intended to produce pale colored
"white" veal.
New Jersey citizens are encouraged to contact
your state senators and assembly members to urge them to support
S. 159 and A. 329, accordingly. It is imperative that legislators
understand that this is an important issue to their constituents.
To see a sample letter to legislators, click
here. It would also help to write to Governor Codey
about this legislation. click
here.
Concerned citizens can also help by distributing
educational materials, writing letters to the editor of newspapers
detailing the cruelty of crated veal production, and encouraging
restaurants not to serve white veal. To become involved in
these efforts, please contact Farm Sanctuary at the information
below.
If you need the names and contact information
for your state legislators, please click
here or contact us at campaign@farmsanctuary.org
or by phone at 607-583-2225 ext 251.
Click here for
a history of the New Jersey Veal Bill.
Polls
Find Widespread Opposition to Cruel Veal Production in New
Jersey.
Update: As the end of the legislative
session approaches, it is unlikely that this bill will pass
in 2005. However, there is a chance it could be reintroduced
for the 2006-2007 session.
Please contact Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, thank
him for introducing Assembly Bill 329 in the 2004-2005 session,
and respectfully ask him to reintroduce the bill in 2006.
Assemblyman
Reed Gusciora
226 West State St.
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: (609) 292-0500
Emai him at: AsmGusciora@njleg.org
or through Capitol Web Address: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Members/gusciora.asp
