“I Voted” stickers on display at Webb City Hall in Denver, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Photo by Zachary Spindler Craig/The Denver Post)
This November, Denver voters will be asked to ban slaughterhouses in the city.
What many may not realize is that Denver only has one USDA inspected slaughterhouse that processes lamb locally. Under the guise of animal welfare, this ballot initiative targets that one employee-owned operation, potentially costing 160 hardworking employees their jobs and causing a major economic downturn for the area.
During my 24-year career with the Colorado Wool Growers Association, I had the opportunity to visit slaughterhouses and see firsthand the humane slaughter methods used for both sheep and cattle.
Livestock, poultry, and fish are harvested to provide essential nutrients for our diets (only 4% of the U.S. population is vegetarian). Our obligation to people and the planet is to ensure that animals are treated humanely from birth to death, to be good stewards of the land, and to preserve and improve the environment. Best management practices for animal welfare and land management are the foundation for raising healthy livestock that enter the consumer supply chain.
The Denver facility specifically sought the expertise of Dr. Temple Grandin, a world-renowned animal welfare expert, autism advocate and professor of animal science at Colorado State University, to ensure their processing facility meets the highest standards of animal care. Her groundbreaking work in the field of humane animal treatment is practiced daily at the Superior Farm Denver facility.
Over the next few months, you will hear heated rhetoric from supporters of this ban who want to end animal farming in Colorado (at least that’s what their website said a few months ago). As you sort through the arguments, ask yourself: “Is it a good decision to dismantle the local food supply chain and force consumers to rely on imported meat?” America’s reliance on foreign countries for essential goods undermines our national independence.
We live in uncertain times and American food security should be the nation’s top priority. Superior Farms plays a vital role in providing healthy, USDA-inspected protein to local and regional grocery stores, restaurants and other foodservice providers.
Last month, the Colorado State University Institute for Regional Economic Development released a study on the potential impacts of a slaughterhouse ban. The study found that the ban would result in the loss of more than $800 million in economic activity and 2,787 jobs. It also adds that it would have a negative impact on the environment by forcing grocery stores to import lamb products from overseas, unnecessarily raising food prices for consumers.
Should a vocal minority be able to disrupt the food supply chain, drive up food prices and create further hardship for families who already struggle to afford groceries? Should 160 employee-owners be forced to give up their high-paying jobs with health insurance and retirement benefits? Vote NO on the proposed slaughterhouse ban.
Bonnie Brown Eddy is executive director of the Colorado Wool Growers Association.
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