Michigan Passes Factory Farm Reform (Effective 2019)

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm recently signed a bill into law that phases out veal crates for calves within three years, and battery cages for laying hens and gestation crates for breeding sows within ten years.

The law prohibits a Michigan farm operator or owner from tethering or confining gestating sows, calves raised for veal or egg laying hen for more than a majority of a day in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending its limbs or turning around freely.

Critics of the law voice concern about the “majority of a day” language fearing that hens will still spend just under half of the day confined to small battery cages. But maintaining two systems for different parts of the day would be cost prohibitive on any farm.

Critics also feel that permitting veal crates and tethering until October of 2012, and battery cages and pig gestation crates until October of 2019 perpetuates animal suffering for much too long a time. Farming methodologies exist now to do away with these extreme confinement methods and the long time frame for enforcement was likely a compromise to the animal industry.

Michigan has more than ten million laying hens, approximately 100,000 breeding pigs and is a top veal-producing state. View Michigan’s enacted law at: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2009-2010/publicact/htm/2009-PA-0117.htm. The law passed the Michigan Senate 36-0 and the House 87-20.

A similar law proposed in New York State (Assembly Bill 8163) provides for criminal penalties and fines, in addition to injunctive relief. Michigan’s law provides that hens have access to at least one square foot of usable floor space per hen. New York’s proposed law does not set a minimum floor area. Michigan defines “turning around freely” as turning in a complete circle without touching the side of an enclosure or another animal. New York only prohibits touching the side of an enclosure when turning. Michigan’s exceptions include examination, testing, treatment of operation for veterinary purposes by licensed veterinarians. New York’s exception for veterinary care is not limited to licensed veterinarians.

View New York’s proposed law at: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A08163&sh=t. New York's law faces an uphill battle as powerful agribusiness interests and lobbyists oppose the law. The bill is stalled in the Assembly Agriculture Committee. No hearing have been set.