NPPC pleased about California court ruling

31-01-2007 | Home | News

The National Pork Producers Council in the US is happy to see that the California court case against the use of gestation crates has been thrown out.

“We are pleased that the ruling made by the Court of Appeals in California was positive for the producers involved and our industry,” NPPC president Joy Philippi told Pig Progress.

Appeal case

The appeal case, directed against Corcoran-based pig producer CorcPork, was initiated by the animal activist group Farm Sanctuary, having lost a first court case in 2005. The group claimed individual gestation crates are “physically and psychologically abusive.”

Farm animals should be given “adequate exercise area,” they feel. However, at least one study by the American Veterinary Medical Association found no more significant problems with the individual stalls than with group pens.

Close watch

NPPC is usually keeping a close watch on these developments as in the years prior to 2007 public actions by animal activist groups have led to gestation crate bans in the states of Florida and Arizona.

Philippi said, “It would be pure speculation on my part to predict if further actions will take place in California. But history on the activists activities to have gestation crates outlawed seem to be heavier in states with more dense population centers, and where there are fewer pigs produced.”

She continued, “We are concerned that “activist” type organizations are using the court system to challenge how our producers raise pigs in our country.”

“California is not one of the major pork production states in the US. But their production is important to the entire pork producing chain.”