This week, THE AMERICAN RANCHER again takes up the issue of Beef Cattle Welfare Decisions with Dr. Dan Thomson of Kanasas State University. The program will center on the proactive steps that stockmen and those in animal agriculture are taking to maintain a vigilant position in this current debate. Previously, Dr. Thomson defined the conflict of those who advocate Animal Rights versus those who carry out Animal Welfare as they provide food for the nation and the world. Likely, the biggest message of the first program is the fact that Animal Rights and Animal Welfare DO NOT mean the same thing. Animal Rights is a position held by less than 2% of the American public which advocates that animals have the same rights as humans and must not be raised for food. Animal Welfare is engaging in proper care and raising of animals, especially those that fulfill the noble purpose of supplying edible protein to support life.

As the debate continues over Animal Welfare, stockmen are staying vigilant and proactive in a number of ways. Education is on the increase as cattlemen are taking advantage of seminars, symposiums and workshops designed to bring them up to speed on the latest information and methods of practice in the beef industry. The Beef Cattle Institute 2nd International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare held in May 2010 at Kansas State University had tremendous attendance. Attendees included scientists, veterinarians, ranchers and beef industry members who came together to discuss the challenges concerning animal welfare. Dr. Dan Thomson asserts that stockmen are not sitting around passively in the face of these challenges. Dr. Dan Thomson has seen an explosion of interest from cattlemen desiring to further educate themselves in better handling their livestock. Over the last 4 months, some 5 thousand stockmen have engaged educational opportunity through programs that he has developed for animal welfare. Dr. Thomson is quick to acknowledge that the NCBA and hosts of others like cattle handling experts Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Tom Noffsinger are educating American ranchers on making beef cattle welfare decisions.

John Butler is the CEO of Beef Marketing Group, an integrated producer that specializes in meeting exact needs of many types of branded beef programs desired by today’s consumer. Animal welfare is alive and in operation in many of America’s feedlots. Through his business, John has witnessed the gap between the public and cattlemen being bridged through strategic events that bring the consumer and the beef producer together. Through educational programs, both live and online, stockmen are increasing their knowledge in a host of scenarios where animal welfare comes into play including: transportation, weaning and preconditioning, feedlots and auction markets. These measures are all about creating an animal welfare culture in their operations and a dialogue with the public over concerns regarding the production of our nation’s food supply.

Recently, animal protection groups have been on the move politically. Much like the pattern that got Proposition 2 passed in California, HSUS and others went to work in Ohio. There, a ballot initiative was avoided in exchange for concessions that were agreed on by an agricultural panel and representatives from the animal protection groups. According to Dr. Thomson, the Ohio decision is a new method employed by agricultural leaders that will in effect, see how sincere animal rights groups are at working with agriculture. The agreement contains many details and stretches out over some 15 years before all its provisions are played out. It is a common practice by animal rights groups to drive for ballot initiatives which are teamed with severely negative media campaigns designed to malign animal agriculture by association prior to voting day. It is noteworthy that when animal rights groups fail to obtain their ballot initiatives and are forced to go through legislative process where decisions are made based on research and inquiry, the animal rights groups are not nearly so successful.

The 58th Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Convention was held the last week of July in Midwest City. Guest speakers included Dr. Temple Grandin and David Martosko of the Center for Consumer Freedom. Mr. Martosko spoke openly of the strategies of animal rights groups such as HSUS and PETA. Mr. Martosko says to make no mistake about it, the HSUS and PETA agendas are vegan based and they want to make it too expensive for cattlemen to raise livestock by shutting down a significant percentage of the market through their media campaigns and lobbying efforts. What is astonishing is that so little money, less than a half of 1%, that’s right, point 45 percent, raised in the name of animal rights goes toward any help of animals according to CCF research.

Animal protection groups are numerous in the United States. Probably the most well known are: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - PETA – and The Humane Society of the United States – HSUS.  These entities state their overall mission as celebrating animals and confronting cruelty. Their focus is animals of all types including companion pets, wildlife and domesticated animals. Factory farming is a front that has brought engagement between Animal Rights advocates and livestock producers. HumaneWatch.org is a watchdog effort launched by the Center for Consumer Freedom. The CCF is a non-profit coalition that wants to inform consumers on facts regarding animal welfare and, in particular, examines the agenda of HSUS as it pertains to animal agriculture. The efforts being made by Dr. Thomson and many others to engage stockmen is by no means a big I"m OK, You're OK game where animal abuse or neglect are simply winked at while things go on business as usual. It is an effort to both educate and advocate animal welfare and, at the same time, present a firm front against those who have ideas of coming after their livelihood.

http://HumaneWatch.org

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