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Bill to Prevent Cruelty to Veal Calves Killed by Agribusiness Lobby

Popular Humane Legislation Stopped at Last Minute on Assembly Floor

Trenton, NJ- January 9, 2004 - New Jersey lost an opportunity to prevent the cruel treatment of veal calves when Joe Roberts, the Assembly majority leader, blocked the veal bill from coming up for a vote on the Assembly floor. The measure, which already passed in the New Jersey senate, had enough votes to pass in the Assembly had a vote been allowed on January 12, the last voting session of the year.

The veal bill was supported by a five to one margin among New Jersey citizens, according to a poll by the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Humane organizations, veterinarians, businesses, farmers, and celebrities, including Mary Tyler Moore, actively supported the bill. Assemblyman Roberts refused to allow a vote, despite hearing from thousands of citizens urging him to do so.

The legislation would have required that calves who are raised for veal be provided enough space to turn around. And it would have required that calves be given adequate dietary iron to prevent anemia, and adequate fiber to allow their digestive systems to develop normally. While New Jersey is not a significant veal-producing state currently, it is a major veal calf slaughtering state, and there are concerns that inhumane veal operations will move into New Jersey in the absence of this legislation.

To produce veal, calves are typically chained by their necks in small crates. This is where they spend their entire lives, unable to walk, turn around, or even lie down comfortably. They are fed an all-liquid diet that is lacking in iron and fiber, which produces borderline anemia and the pale-colored flesh sold as veal. Such cruelty has been outlawed in other countries, and it should be prohibited in the United States, as well.

"The veal bill is a common sense proposal that requires calves to be given basic humane consideration," said Farm Sanctuary president, Gene Baur (formerly Bauston). "This legislation has widespread support throughout New Jersey, and it is very frustrating that a couple of Assembly members aligned with agribusiness could block the bill at the last minute. By refusing to allow a vote, Assemblyman Roberts has served the narrow interests of the factory farming industry to the detriment of broader popular concerns and basic human decency."

With over 100,000 active members across the country, including celebrities Casey Affleck, Kim Basinger, Noah Wyle, Alicia Silverstone, and Hollywood legend Mary Tyler Moore, Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading voice for farm animals, works to end farm animal suffering through legislative and legal actions, cruelty investigations, humane education, public awareness projects, and direct rescue and shelter efforts.

More information is available at www.njfarms.org.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.