Animal agriculture is an integral part of Kentucky’s agricultural economy—it is a multibillion dollar industry. Thousands of jobs depend on its vitality. It greatly contributes to the safest, most affordable food supply in the world. Its importance to the corn industry cannot be denied, either. More than half of the corn produced in Kentucky is utilized as livestock feed. Livestock producers also utilize 100 percent of Kentucky’s Dried Distillers Grains, ethanol’s important co-product. The welfare of the animals that are fed by Kentucky corn is as important to corn growers as it is to the livestock producers themselves.

A healthy animal industry cannot be achieved without healthy animals. To farmers, humane treatment of animals is more than an ethical issue, it is an economic issue. Kentucky’s agriculture industry has made unprecedented strides to ensure an adequate supply of large-animal veterinarians is retained in Kentucky. Producers have invested millions toward proper handling facilities, which have been widely employed to minimize animal injury and maximize animal health. The Legislature and the Agriculture Development Board have followed suit with incentives—proving it to be common agreement that animal welfare is of utmost importance to Kentucky. Animal welfare is a competitiveness issue, as well. Kentucky has an outstanding reputation for producing healthy animals and superior genetics, which is why Kentucky animals are in highest demand by finishing operations out West.

Kentucky’s agriculture industry is unique in that it is comprised of a very high percentage of diversified farms. A typical operation in Kentucky is not a row crop farm or a livestock farm – it is a row crop farm and a livestock farm. Attempts by extreme organizations to damage any sector of the agriculture industry in Kentucky directly affect all farmers. Therefore, all segments of the industry work together to combat these efforts. The Kentucky Livestock Coalition was recently formed as a platform to promote animal welfare and highlight the efforts that Kentucky farmers employ to ensure animals remain healthy and animal agriculture remains healthy. Every major animal organization is a member:

• Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association

• Kentucky Poultry Federation

• Kentucky Thoroughbred Association

• Kentucky Pork Producers

• Kentucky Sheep and Goats Association

The most recent example of a successful effort to unreasonably regulate animal practices/equipment is California’s Proposition 2. It will outlaw farrowing crates used to protect pigs and laying cages used to protect chickens. The rule will virtually eliminate the pork and poultry industry in that state. Instead of sound science, Proposition 2 was achieved through unclear wording on a purposely confusing ballot measure. The authors’ goal is not to improve animal welfare; it is to eliminate animal agriculture. A similar effort by the same organization is underway in Ohio, except through the legislature. All members of Kentucky agriculture are working to ensure that animal handling guidelines are science-based and reasonable.