Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board: Board forms and moves swiftly through 2010
COLUMBUS — Members of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board were named and went to work soon after, in the spring of 2010.
After a series of meetings to hear from the public across the state, the group defined its purpose and went to work.
The OLCSB is made up of members from the state house, state senate, Ohio Department of Agriculture director, state veterinarian, dairy farmers, hog farmers, Ohio State University faculty, member from the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, family beef farmers and veterinarians.
The board’s first finalized standards involved the issue of euthanasia. Then, they went to work on approving civil penalties.
The OLCSB veal subcommittee was one of the first to present its recommendations to the full board, which triggered an outcry from animal rights activists at odds over housing for veal.
Currently, the biggest topic has been whether to tether veal calves, or keep them in group housing. Arguments have been made for both systems, and to differing ages of the animal’s life.
No standards for any livestock species have been approved, but the board has made multiple amendments to help form the standards they’ll eventually put to a vote.
The board’s next meeting is set for Jan. 4 in Reynoldsburg.
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