Weld County Commissioners vote to oppose Initiative 16, calling it an attack on rural Colorado

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By Kelly Ragan

The Board of Weld County Commissioners unanimously voted to oppose Initiative 16 at a board meeting Wednesday.

Commissioners called the initiative an attack on rural Colorado.

“This initiative, if passed, will economically damage livestock producers across the state by mandating not only how they care for their livestock but also dictating when they are allowed to sell their livestock,” said Commissioner Perry Buck in a news release.

So, what is Initiative 16?

Initiative 16, also known as The Colorado Treatment of Animals Initiative, would, according to Ballotpedia:

  • Amend state law regarding the treatment of animals

  • Add fish to the definition of livestock

  • Amend the definition of sexual act with an animal

  • Define the natural lifespan for certain animals in state law

This could have major implications for Colorado ranchers, especially as the proposed changes would adjust laws on animal cruelty to include common practice reproduction assistance, including artificial inseminations, embryo transfers, pregnancy checks and more, according to a report by the Colorado Sun.

The initiative also proposes allowing livestock such as cows and hogs to live out at least 25% of their natural lives before slaughter, which could lead to higher production costs and therefore higher prices.

According to the Colorado Sun, cattle are typically slaughtered for beef around age 2. The proposal would change that to age 5. By then, ranchers argue the meat is no longer as tender.

“Once again, rural Colorado is under attack by urbanites with no understanding of where their food comes from or how it is produced,” said Commissioner Chair Steve Moreno in a news release. “Anyone with basic farming and ranching knowledge understands the ridiculousness of this initiative and the damage it will cause not only livestock but also your domesticated pets.”

Gov. Jared Polis agrees with commissioners.

The Colorado Sun reported the governor’s spokeswoman Shelby Wieman said Polis agrees with farmers and ranchers, saying the “ballot initiative would hurt Colorado and destroy jobs, and he opposes it.”

The campaign behind the initiative, Colorado Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation, argues on its website “the initiative would simply extend the most basic animal welfare rights that are granted to pets to all farmed animals. While the animal is alive, it must not be abandoned, abused, neglected, mistreated or sexually assaulted.”

This is a citizen-generated measure, meaning it requires 124,634 signatures from registered voters to get on the ballot – much like the wolf reintroduction measure that passed last year.

The initiative passed the state’s title board review, according to a news release, but statewide ag groups are expected to make appeals. Signatures can only be collected once those appeals have been heard.

To learn more

To read the full text of Initiative 16, go to https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2021-2022/16OriginalFinal.pdf

To read the full text of the Weld County Commissioner’s resolution opposing the initiative, go to https://www.weldgov.com/files/sharedassets/public/newsroom/2021/documents/20211100.pdf

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