REYNOLDSBURG — Ohio Agriculture Director James Zehringer has announced that animal care rules developed by the Livestock Care Standards Board will become effective on September 29.<\/p>\n
The establishment of comprehensive livestock care standards is required by Ohio\u2019s constitution following the passage of State Issue 2 in 2009. The statewide ballot initiative specified creation of the 13-member Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board with the responsibility of obtaining industry and public input in developing livestock rules for alpacas, beef, dairy, goats, horses, llamas, pork, poultry, sheep and veal.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe members of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board and representatives from Ohio\u2019s agricultural community devoted the past 18 months to developing and vetting the most comprehensive livestock care standards in the nation,\u201d Zehringer said. \u201cStates from around the country are now looking towards Ohio\u2019s leadership in developing these new standards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohio\u2019s livestock care rules, which become effective with the Director of Agriculture\u2019s signature, will be signed on September 29 at a special ceremony in Fort Recovery. That date concludes an extensive outreach effort by the department and Ohio\u2019s farm organizations to inform Ohioans raising or caring for livestock about the new rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have already started the process of educating Ohio farmers about these new rules and it is our goal to spend the next several weeks in continuing to provide the state\u2019s agricultural community information about them before they go into effect,\u201d said Zehringer.<\/p>\n
As part of its education effort the department has developed printable guides to help producers understand the new standards. A series of information sessions hosted by Dr. David Glauer, former state veterinarian, has also been scheduled around the state.<\/p>\n
The meetings are open to the public and will feature a presentation on the new livestock care standards as well as an opportunity to ask ODA staff questions about the new rules.<\/p>\n
The dates and locations of those two-hour meetings include:<\/p>\n
Wednesday, August 24, 6-8 in Hillsboro<\/strong><\/p>\n Southern State Community College (Auditorium), 100 Hobart Drive<\/p>\n Wednesday, August 31, 6-8 in Wooster<\/strong><\/p>\n Ohio State University OARDC (Shisler Center Ballroom), 1680 Madison Avenue<\/p>\n Wednesday, September 14, 6-8 in Lima<\/strong><\/p>\n Independence Elementary School, 615 Tremont Avenue<\/p>\n Tuesday, September 27, 6-8 in Zanesville<\/strong><\/p>\n Ohio University-Zanesville Campus (The Campus Center T430 & 431), 1425 Newark Road<\/p>\n Thursday, September 29, 6-8 in Fort Recovery<\/strong><\/p>\n American Legion, 2490 State Route 49 N.<\/p>\n