The White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing a USDA rule on organic animal welfare standards. Current rules governing organic foods cover such things as feed and antibiotic use in poultry and livestock, but don’t specifically address how the animals are treated. Marion, South Dakota organic dairy producer Tim Eisenbeis says most producers treat their animals properly and their organic rules recommend that.
He says most of the small and medium size producers closely follow good animal welfare standards, but there are a few large producers that don’t.
Eisenbeis says consumers are demanding producers treat their animals properly with their practices and have been influencing food companies with that request.
The OMB review of the USDA rule normally takes no more than 180 days although controversial measures often take longer.
