January 4, 2001

Dr. Ernest Zirkle
State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture
PO Box 330
Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Dr. Zirkle,

I am an Honor Student in the School of Agriculture at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. This past semester I wrote a research paper about current animal agriculture practices and their alternatives. I became aware through my studies that the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is currently in the process of drafting standards for the "humane" care, keeping, transport, etc. of domestic livestock.

As a component of my research paper, I interviewed fourteen small farmers in New Jersey and the vast majority of them told me that they disagree with the practice of confining animals in systems such as veal crates and battery cages. Many small farmers in New Jersey felt that these confinement systems, commonly referred to as "factory farming," were a detriment to not only the well-being of the animals, but to the environment, labor, and small farms, which have been the backbone of New Jersey for centuries. Most of these farmers also informed me that they would support the state drafting guidelines that abolish the use of confinement systems, and their associated practices, such as the debeaking and force-molting of egg-laying hens.

The animal-rearing systems employed by the farmers that I interviewed appear to be economically viable and sustainable. Further research into alternatives to "factory farming" seems to suggest that farming in the absence of confinement systems works quite well on all fronts. In the European Union, many countries have outlawed the use of veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates. Here in the United States, many family farms do quite well without being inhumane to the animals.

Farmer Ted Stephens of Stephens Farm raises pigs and allows them to come in and out of a barn, where they can lay in hay, or root in the dirt outside, and engage in other natural behaviors. He uses neither farrowing nor gestation crates, and yet he has 10 surviving piglets per sow on average, which is better than the national average of sows in gestation and farrowing crates (9 piglets per sow). He also produces eggs and emphasized that he is making a good living off both his egg and pork production.

Richard McDermott of Neptune Farm raises sheep and cattle. They are allowed to roam on pasture and graze in such a way as to improve the environment. He feels that factory farming harms the environment, the animals, and small farms, and he supports the drafting of standards that eliminate confinement systems.

Wayne Thomas of Hattitudes Farm disagrees wholeheartedly with confining animals in crates. His cows, sheep, lambs, turkeys, and over 1000 chickens are all allowed to roam free with access to the outdoors. He feels that farming in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the animals has lower input costs than "conventional" farming, and the income is higher.

Mark Faille of Stonyfield Farm is "appalled" by the way livestock is treated in commercial farming. He raises his animals in a free-range environment.

James Brandt of Keller Farm raises chickens and eggs in a building, but not in cages. He has never debeaked his hens. With over 4 square feet of space each, there is enough space that they do not become frustrated to the point where they would peck one another.

Leonard Pollara of Upper Meadows Farm believes that the quality of animal products is far lower when you don't grant the animal it's basic psychological needs such as walking, rooting, scratching, turning around, etc. He raises chickens and cows, and also raises calves for free-range veal. The calves are allowed to remain with their mothers. He, too, felt that his input costs were much less, since his animals graze on (and improve) his pasture, and that he makes good money at it.

According to Susan Keymer of Merrick Farm, chickens are not meant to be in cages, and her free-range chickens are happier animals and produce a better product.

As you can see, there are alternatives available to farmers in New Jersey, and many people are successfully employing them. I urge you, and the Department of Agriculture, to carefully consider adopting standards for the humane care of domestic livestock that exclude battery cages, gestation crates, and veal crates. I also urge you to examine the use of practices such as forced-molting, debeaking, tail docking, and other modifications that are performed on animals in the absence of anesthesia or pain-relieving drugs.

I thank you for your time and for considering my comments. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Stacey Kennealy
Cinnaminson, NJ