SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Voters will decide in November whether to ban small hen cages in the state's egg industry as of 2015.
The ballot measure got more than the required 433,971 signatures from registered voters, the California Secretary of State's Office announced April 9.
The measure, sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and allied groups, would require that cages provide enough room for egg-laying hens to stand up, lie down, turn around and fully extend their limbs.
Opponents, including leaders in the Northern San Joaquin Valley's large egg industry, say the cages protect the birds from disease and injury.
They also say consumers can buy cage-free eggs, but the measure would increase prices for everyone.
"It would be tremendously expensive and, in fact, drive the egg industry out of the state," said Scott Macdonald, spokesman for Californians for Sound Farm Animal Agriculture, an industry group that opposes the initiative.
The measure would not affect chickens raised for meat. Most of these birds are allowed to roam in large barns.
The 2015 deadline is intended to give egg producers time to revamp their operations if the measure passes.
Joy Mench, an animal science professor at Davis, agreed that cage-free hens can be prone to disease and injury, and produce pricier eggs.
She said a promising alternative is cages that are large enough to provide room for nesting, roosting and other natural behavior. They are beginning to be used in the European Union, where small cages will be banned as of 2012.
The California measure also would ban small enclosures for cattle raised for veal and for pregnant pigs.
Colorado legislation
In Colorado, the state House has given final approval to legislation to phase out the use of veal crates and gestation crates in the state; and the governor has promised to sign the legislation.
The legislation would phase out veal crates within four years and phase out gestation crates within 10 years.
The Humane Society of the United States has also agreed to officially withdraw a proposed ballot initiative that would have also phased out the confinement of egg-laying hens in battery cages.
The HSUS, Colorado agriculture groups and the commissioner of agriculture agreed to continue to have dialogue on that issue.
However, the HSUS is proceeding with a ballot initiative in California to phase out veal and gestation crates and battery cages. A total of 790,000 signatures were submitted to qualify that measure for the November ballot. Final certification for the ballot is expected within a month.
The McClatchy Newspapers contributed to this report.
Daily
News