Group Takes Proactive Stance on Animal Welfare Issues 

February 12, 2010 Billings, Mont. – Due to concerns about how groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other extremist organizations are railroading animal-care regulations in several states, R-CALF USA members who attended the group’s recent annual convention in Rapid City, S.D., felt it was imperative to get policy on the books to emphasize that cattle farmers and ranchers are the experts when it comes to the proper management of their livestock. 

Statistics show that the U.S. live cattle industry generates to the national economy about $50 billion dollars per year. 

R-CALF USA members will vote on the following proposed resolution this spring via a mail-in ballot: 

Be it resolved: R-CALF USA opposes extremist animal rights individual’s or groups’ views and tactics that impair animal owners’ Constitutional rights to the pursuit of life, liberty and the right to own property. 

“Our animals are a tremendous investment in our livelihoods, so of course we’re going to give them what they need to be healthy and productive,” said R-CALF USA Member Jim Foster, who sponsored the proposed resolution. “These extremists’ threats are real and come in various forms, including media attacks and ever-increasing state ballot initiatives whereby these activist organizations end up deciding how we ranchers should manage our animals and then convince unknowing voters to approve these radical restrictions in a general election.” 

“Having this sort of policy on the books will simply make it official where we stand on the matter,” said R-CALF USA President/Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, a Missouri veterinarian who also chairs the group’s animal health committee. “Farmers and ranchers, without doubt, are the best stewards of their land and livestock because that’s what they rely on to pay their bills.” 

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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com  or, call 406-252-2516.   

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                            This page was last updated on Wednesday, October 12, 2011.