Wow, it's been a long time since I've had time to post! :) I just wanted to share with everyone something that I found through Amanda Radke's Beef Daily blog that really hit home. She shared a link that quickly touched on some of the Ohio Livestock Care Standard's board job, as they continue to improve Ohio's livestock care practices. As stated on the website, this is a very hard task because animal rights activist groups such as HSUS and PETA only have the animal mind and not the farmer.
As a beef producer myself I'm upset when these groups come into an area and tell livestock producers the best way to raise our animals. Now I'm not saying that there aren't people out there that don't care for their livestock by the given standards of say a veterinarian or USDA, but the large majority of those involved in agriculture do care for their livestock properly. As being a beef producer myself, I realize the importance of animal care, because why would I want to be surrounded by livestock that is ill? I strive to have a healthy herd of cattle because if one of my cows get ill then the rest of my livestock will also eventually become ill. Just like a class of elementary students. Once one student catches the flu, many students in the same class also catch the flu. As more livestock becomes ill then that's more medication and veterinary expense, and who wants a $100.00 veterinary bill multiplied by five or fifteen?? As my Dad has shared with me, the livestock here must be profitable enough to pay their expenses. If I have more expenses then what they're worth when I sell them to 4-H youth for their fair project or other ways that I can sell my livestock, how am I going to be able to continue and afford what I love doing the most, spending time with my family and beef cattle?
So to now bring all of these thoughts full circle; why is the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board important to me? This board is not only taking the ideas from animal rights groups, which in truth does keep the Ag industry on its toes to keep improving livestock care standards (but usually suggests extreme animal care measures that are unhealthy for our livestock), but also is keeping the farmer and rancher in mind. Producers of the livestock industry must have guidelines on how to care for our livestock properly, but also keep in mind that our operation has to be affordable and profitable. For those who complain about the food prices now, if we would even consider most of HSUS or PETA's animal care practices then the cost of meat or other livestock produce at the grocery would be through the roof! It'd be soo expensive that you may not be able to afford to eat products from livestock as frequently as you do now; suggesting you to turn to a vegetarian lifestyle, which is HSUS, PETA and other alike groups' goal.... to end animal agriculture and promote a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle.
My favorite quote about the online article is this: 'Where would we be without agriculture??? = naked and hungry!'
Have a great agriculture day!
~Emily
As a beef producer myself I'm upset when these groups come into an area and tell livestock producers the best way to raise our animals. Now I'm not saying that there aren't people out there that don't care for their livestock by the given standards of say a veterinarian or USDA, but the large majority of those involved in agriculture do care for their livestock properly. As being a beef producer myself, I realize the importance of animal care, because why would I want to be surrounded by livestock that is ill? I strive to have a healthy herd of cattle because if one of my cows get ill then the rest of my livestock will also eventually become ill. Just like a class of elementary students. Once one student catches the flu, many students in the same class also catch the flu. As more livestock becomes ill then that's more medication and veterinary expense, and who wants a $100.00 veterinary bill multiplied by five or fifteen?? As my Dad has shared with me, the livestock here must be profitable enough to pay their expenses. If I have more expenses then what they're worth when I sell them to 4-H youth for their fair project or other ways that I can sell my livestock, how am I going to be able to continue and afford what I love doing the most, spending time with my family and beef cattle?
So to now bring all of these thoughts full circle; why is the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board important to me? This board is not only taking the ideas from animal rights groups, which in truth does keep the Ag industry on its toes to keep improving livestock care standards (but usually suggests extreme animal care measures that are unhealthy for our livestock), but also is keeping the farmer and rancher in mind. Producers of the livestock industry must have guidelines on how to care for our livestock properly, but also keep in mind that our operation has to be affordable and profitable. For those who complain about the food prices now, if we would even consider most of HSUS or PETA's animal care practices then the cost of meat or other livestock produce at the grocery would be through the roof! It'd be soo expensive that you may not be able to afford to eat products from livestock as frequently as you do now; suggesting you to turn to a vegetarian lifestyle, which is HSUS, PETA and other alike groups' goal.... to end animal agriculture and promote a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle.
My favorite quote about the online article is this: 'Where would we be without agriculture??? = naked and hungry!'
Have a great agriculture day!
~Emily
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