Another call to action against those who would destroy animal agriculture

Not so slowly, and very surely, a growing number of agricultural spokespersons are taking off the kid gloves when they discuss the threat to all food animal producers that is posed by vegan wolves disguised in animal rights clothing.

A case in point came during the National Dairy Leaders Conference April 20 and 21 in Denver, Colo. That’s when Gatz Riddell, D.V.M., executive vice-president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, added his voice to the growing chorus urging livestock industries to proactively adopt animal care practices that resonate with consumers – and consider abandoning those that don’t.

“Groups like Humane Society of the United States are never to be believed,” he said. “We have to remember that their true agenda is the abolishment of animal agriculture. Our best defense is to remove our opponents’ offense. We need to identify the “low-hanging fruit” in terms of our procedures and protocols that are easy to take issue with, address them before others do, and correct or eliminate them.”

Riddell cited several practices that are either under increased public scrutiny now or are likely to be in the near future. These include:

• tail docking
• dehorning
• surgical procedures without the use of anesthesia
• lameness
• low body condition
• culling rates
• failure to provide bull calves with colostrum
• disposition of bull calves in general