For Immediate Release: January 12, 2010
Contact: Kelly Loftus 802-828-3829
Montpelier – At the direction of Governor Douglas, Vermont agriculture secretary Roger Allbee recently convened the first meeting of the Vermont Livestock Care Standards Advisory Board.
The board, modeled after the recently formed Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, is chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture with twelve members. The members include farm owners, food safety experts, a livestock veterinarian, the state veterinarian, members of the public representing consumers, a county humane society representative, a representative of the Vermont Slaughter Association, and a Vermont livestock dealer representative.
The Board will advise the Secretary on standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in the state, subject to the authority of the Vermont legislature. In recommending those standards, the Board will consider factors that include agricultural best management practices for care and well-being of livestock and poultry species, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity, food safety practices and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.
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Kelly Loftus
Principal Assistant
Agency of Agriculture
802-828-3829
