- Four hens crammed into a 16-inch-wide battery cage, courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica’s Advocacy for Animals
The passing of Proposition 2 on Nov. 4 will mean happier and healthier lives for animals on commercial farms in California. The proposition requires that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be housed in confinements large enough for them to live comfortably. Living comfortably for a commercial animal means being able to stand up, turn around completely and stretch out one’s limbs.
Currently, most commercial animals are housed in tiny, cramped enclosures, with little room to stand up or even turn around in. Because of the small size of the confinements, these animals suffer from a wide array of health issues, including lameness, broken bones, and heart attacks. Read more about commercial animal suffering here.
Proposition 2 requires that California farmers make the confinements for these animals more spacious. This increase in space will hopefully prevent the rapid spread of disease, a common problem on commercial farms in which too many animals are crammed into too little space. Proposition 2 will also increase the quality of farm-raised food in California by helping to ensure that commercial livestock is raised in healthier conditions. Most importantly, the new standards will allow commercial animals to live slightly happier lives, as the simple freedom to stand up and turn 180 degrees around is no longer taken from them.
The following video explains Proposition 2 and the importance of its passing in California.
