The Pueblo Chieftain
Colorado ranchers and agricultural groups are staunchly opposing an initiative that could end up on the 2022 ballot that they say would drastically alter livestock production and crumble the agricultural economy in the state.
Initiative 16, dubbed Protecting Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation, or PAUSE, by proponents, is intended to expand animal cruelty definitions to livestock. And while it is meant to protect cows, chickens, pigs and other livestock from abuse, opponents argue that the initiative would negatively impact the state’s $47 billion agricultural industry.
“I don t know what the people who wrote it, what their true objectives were, but from the producer’s side, it is devastating. If this thing were to pass, I truly feel that agriculture in the state of Colorado would go,” Pueblo County Stockmen’s Association board member Carl Beeman said.
Colorado Initiative 16 would tighten rules on treatment of livestock chieftain.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chieftain.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.