AMI Foundation Animal Care & Handling Conference

“Lessons Learned From California’s Proposition 2” By: Gene Gregory President – United Egg Producers UEP’s Position

„ Support the right of consumers to choose.

„ UEP members produce eggs in cage, cage- free and organic systems.

„ That retailers and consumers should not be forced to limit their egg purchases from only cage-free systems.

„ Consumers should have right to purchase lowest cost egg product if that is their choice. UEP’s Animal Welfare Missions

„ Scientific approach to animal welfare guidelines. „ Guidelines based on scientific research not personal opinions or emotions. „ Guidelines that are driven by the industry rather than government mandates or legislation. „ Guidelines that create a level playing field for both egg producers and the marketplace (our customer). Activists Agenda

„ Animal activists, vegetarians, and vegans feel that it is their moral duty to change society from one that has always enjoyed a variety of food choices and consumers’ right to make those choices. „ Activists are pressing their agendas through market intimidation, legislation and lawsuits. „ Society will not give up hamburger, milk, and eggs easily; short term goals have been established to eliminate the housing of hens in cages, pens and sow gestation crates. „ Elimination of Animal Agriculture. Animal Activists’ Campaigns In United States Against Egg Industry

„ Farm Break-Ins.

„ Create website with disparaging pictures and comments.

„ Distributed videos to TV stations.

„ Educational programs for school children.

„ Blaming large confined poultry houses for the spread of the Asian Bird Flu.

„ Introduced State and Federal legislation.

„ Market intimidation against our customers.

„ Lawsuits. HSUS and PETA Ultimate Goals

„ Eliminate animal agriculture. „ Stop and . „ Close zoos. „ Stop rodeos. „ Stop dog racing. „ Shut down pet breeders. „ Stop government purchases of commodities for school lunch and needy food programs. PETA VIDEO – “Meet Your Meat” Narrated By: Alec Baldwin

Attack upon all of animal agriculture:

Chickens Turkeys Egg-Laying Hens Cattle Dairy Cows Veal Pigs Slaughter Plants

Choose a Vegetarian Diet Quotes President & CEO – Humane Society of the United States

“Factory Farming is a dangerous industry that needs to be rooted out.”

“We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.”

Sources: Animal People – May 1993 Taking Action For Animals Conference – Washington, D.C. – July 2007 Quote Manager of HSUS Factory Farming Campaign

“The ultimate agenda of organizations is to abolish all use of animals for any purpose.”

Source: A.P. Business Writer – Linda A Johnson, Oct. 13, 2007 California “Standards For Confining Farm Animals Initiative Statue”

Purpose: “To prohibit the confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.”

Effective January 1, 2015 Date:

Impacted Calves raised for veal (None in California) Animals: Pigs during pregnancy (Approx, 9,000 sows) Egg-laying hens (Approx. 19 million) California = Language For Egg-Laying Hens

„ “Fully extending limbs means fully extending all limbs without touching the side of an enclosure, including in the case of egg-laying hens, fully spreading both wings without touching the side of an enclosure or other egg-laying hens.” California Prop. 2 Results

YES ………. Approximate 63% NO ………. Approximate 37%

We won the intellectual vote and lost the emotional vote. California “Standards For Confining Farm Animals Initiative Statue”

„ Impact of state ballot measure, according to economic study:

„ Loss of more than 4,700 jobs

„ Loss of $615 million to the state’s economy

„ Major shortages in locally-produced eggs and higher egg prices for consumers. Force California Farmers Out of Business

„ Legislation in California will likely force most farmers out of business. They can ‘t compete with out-of- state or out-of-country eggs. „ Increased pressure on land use and environmental concerns. „ Causing consumers, retailers, foodservice companies to purchase eggs from out-of-state farms or from out-of-country where there is lower standard of animal care than in USA. „ Consumers probably will still be eating eggs from hens kept in cages in other states or countries…but at higher prices. California People And Hens

„ State with approximately 35 million people.

„ Approximately 20 million laying hens.

„ More than 95% of hens are kept in cages.

„ State is an egg deficit state and importing eggs.

„ By 2015 probably no more than 3 to 5 million hens will remain in the state. California Assembly Bill #1437 Introduced Assembly Member Huffman

Introduced on February 27, 2009 would prohibit any eggs from being sold in California unless produced under same standards as Proposition 2.

Stated Purpose: To protect human health. Egg Industry’s Campaign

„ Raised $8 million and hired an excellent professional political team. „ Spent $6.7 million on TV ads. „ 30 newspaper editorial boards, the Governor, and hundreds of respected coalition members opposing the proposition. „ Support from the California Grocers Association expressing opposition to the proposition. Things That Were Hard To Overcome

„ Videos of veal and sows in crates.

„ Videos of cage-laying hens in old dirty housing.

„ Consumers love with pets and inability to understand the difference of farm animals.

„ All the negative ads and distortion of truth launched by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

„ Whole Foods Handling Vote YES on Proposition 2 flyers at case registers.

„ City folks don’t know how their food is produced. Reasons Why We Lost

„ The ballot language was so vague and emotional that we would all vote for it if we did not know the true meaning of the consequences. „ HSUS ran image lasting videos in advertising to draw upon the emotions of the voter. „ HSUS’s 10 million members were very active and used emails and blogs very effectively. „ HSUS saying that it would only cost one (1) cent per egg was hard to overcome. „ California is a very liberal state. „ Large turnout to elect President Obama. Ballot Initiative

„ 23 states allow citizens to place issues on a ballot.

„ Passage of a few state initiatives makes it easier for state or federal legislation.

Speaking of the California victory, Wayne Pacelle said: “No state in the U.S. and no Agribusine overlook this mandate.”

“Social change occurs on an incremental pathway. For those who want to see more people adopt a vegetarian di for food and all – I do believe that ss titan anywhere in the nation can builds important awareness about our responsibilities to animals.”

et and not have animals slaughtered this discussion about Proposition 2 HSUS – Even More Confident

All of animal agriculture watched the California campaign and hoped for a victory. Now everyone is concerned and becoming much more active.

HSUS is now more confident than ever.

„ Calling upon White House to appoint an Animal Protection Liaison to help coordinate animal welfare concerns: (policy issues, regulations and positions) across many federal agencies.

„ An Animal Protection Division in the Justice Department.

„ Urging the President for legislation to phase out confinement housing. (Cages, etc.) State Legislation (2007 & 2008)

„ Humane Society of United States (HSUS) pushes legislation that as such would ban cage production in the following states:

Colorado Connecticut New Hampshire All Were Vermont Defeated Arizona Delaware

„ Connecticut and New Hampshire also had proposed legislation which would prohibit state from purchasing eggs from farmers keeping hens in cages. State Legislation (2009)

„ Legislative language similar to California – introduced in Illinois and Connecticut. „ States currently with legislation introduced or, on target list:

„ Maine

„ Ohio

„ Nebraska

„ Washington Advantages and Disadvantages of Cage-Free Housing

Advantages Disadvantages

„ More freedom of „ Higher mortality movement „ Increased cannibalism „ Risk of smothering

„ More difficult to inspect and catch birds

„ Increased risk of parasites

Source: UEP Scientific Advisory Committee Impact Upon Total U.S. Industry Consequences of Cage Ban

„ Would need 15 million more hens to produce same number of eggs. „ Poorer feed conversion would require more than an additional 700,00 acres of corn and to produce the same number of eggs. „ Many egg farmers will simply go out of business. „ Cheaper eggs would come from other countries. „ Current assets of building and equipment would have no value. „ Cost egg farmers approximately $6 billion to convert to cage-free housing. U.S. Retail Egg Prices - 2008

Cage $1.36

Cage-Free $2.79

Organic $3.71 What Is UEP and U.S. Egg Industry Doing Now?

„ Telling the story that we cannot produce an abundance of affordable, safe food in cage-free or organic systems. „ Telling that the HSUS agenda will increase prices and increase hunger at a time of a poor economy. „ Building coalition partners in and out of agriculture. „ Creating partnerships with State Egg Association Executive Directors. „ Working with the American Veterinarian Association. „ Working with credible animal welfare people and organizations. „ Exploring other options to a ban on cages. One that may provide for more natural behaviors. „ Working with states to codify welfare guidelines. Bottom Line Concerns

„ Can we feed a nation of 300+ million people with eggs produced exclusively in non-cage systems? - NO.

„ Can we provide equal assurance against the spread of Asian Bird Flu when birds are no kept indoors? - NO.

„ Can we provide an equal food safety systems when birds are not kept in modern cage housing facilities? - NO.

„ Will consumers purchase as many eggs when prices are 200% to 300% higher? - NO.

„ Will grocers and foodservice operators be forced to stop the sale of foods produced from animals? - MAYBE.

„ Will legislation eliminate most of U.S. egg industry? - MAYBE. Websites: www.uepcertified.com www.usaeggfarming.org Thank You!

Gene Gregory President/CEO United Egg Producers 1720 Windward Concourse, Suite 230 Alpharetta, GA 30005 [email protected]