From the Senate Democrats

 TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senate President Nick Scutari prohibiting the inhumane confinement of breeding pigs and calves raised for veal in a manner that unduly restricts movement or provides inadequate space was released from the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

     “The confinement of mother pigs and calves raised for veal, a common practice among factory farms, constitutes a most savage form of animal cruelty, and should not be tolerated in New Jersey,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth). “While we are assured the majority of our hog farmers do not use this barbaric method of confinement for these sentient beings, our state needs to stand with other states and several countries in making sure this uncivilized practice is banned once and for all.”

     Typically, in factory farm settings, a mother pig will spend the entirety of her pregnancies and nursing periods confined in a metal cage, called a gestation crate or sow stall. Gestation crates enclose pigs in a space of about seven feet by two feet — an area barely larger than the pig’s body. A few days before giving birth, sows are moved to farrowing crates where they are able to lie down with an attached crate where their piglets can nurse.

     Specifically, the bill would prohibit a farm owner or operator from knowingly confining a breeding pig or calf raised for veal:

     * in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending the animal’s limbs, or turning around freely;

     * in the case of a calf raised for veal, in a manner that prevents the animal from grooming itself naturally or having visual contact with other calves.

     The State Board of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture would establish penalties for violations of the provisions of the bill.

     The bill, S1298, was released from the committee by a vote of 4-0.

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