Section 1
Animal Confinement &
The Max Occupancy Standard (MOS)
A factory farm is called a CAFO. That stands for a Controlled Animal Feeding Operation. The few laws in place currently allow animals to be abused through extreme confinement inside of these indoor facilities. This confinement results in animals experiencing deep psychological trauma, sickness, lameness, and disease (3). Many of the chickens we eat are deformed, infected, and abused (4)(5). CAFO’s specifically don’t allow recording in their facilities because of this widespread neglect and abuse. People are not supposed to know they are being poisoned; they don’t have that right here in America.
Proposition 12, the current landmark animal rights legislation, only implemented in some states, does nothing for mature cows and gives chickens 1 square foot of space (6). This enables massive lots with over 100,000 chickens, living in each other’s feces. They are subjected to rapid spreading sicknesses like the bird flu. They also get skin abrasions from laying in manure all day. There is nothing ethical about this animal abuse that is poisoning people and destroying many rural communities air quality (7)(8). How many more people must die before the government takes CAFO’s seriously (9)(10)?
Cows and pigs are not excluded from this suffering. Many live shoulder to shoulder just like the chickens. They are victims of greed and exploitation. Not only is federal law needed for them but also the consumers who are getting poisoned from eating sick animals. If animal confinement standards are left to local municipalities, they are often unaware of any regulations. Many zoning officers do not know the dangers of animal confinement nor are they aware of local laws pertaining to animal confinement.
The new Max Occupancy Standard (MOS) is created to prevent psychological suffering of factory farmed animals. Specifically, the 1.7 billion animals currently housed in these corporate mega prisons. This federal law will ensure that every factory farmed animal is given enough space to walk, move, stand, sleep, and perform natural behaviors. (MOS) is based on simple mathematical measurements of squared feet.
Essentially, every factory-farmed animal will be guaranteed this space. So, the number of animals a facility (CAFO) is allowed to house will be based on how many square feet are on the floor of the living quarters. With this new MOS system and inspector requirements found in section 10, the intense confinement of animals will be illegal and punishable in the court of law. Please see next page for a visual representation.
Section 1 Legislation
10.1. The number of animals a CAFO is permitted is strictly based off the MOS of each animal. This law applies to all animals that are factory farmed indoors, outdoors, or in open air facilities. Every CAFO in the United States will adhere to the MOS and will be given until January 1st, 2027, to make necessary adjustments. This applies to big, medium, and small CAFO’s. Different classifications can be found here (11).
10.2 Pidgeon, 6 feet sq. per animal.
10.3. Chicken, goose - 9 feet sq. per animal.
10.4 Turkey, 18 feet sq. per animal
10.5 Cow- 88 feet sq. per animal
10.6 Pig, sheep, goat- 42 feet sq. per animal
10.7 At least 12 feet of overhead space with proper ventilation and lighting.
10.8 MOS is not to be used as an individual closed room, closed cage, or metal enclosure. MOS is for grouped animals sharing each other’s guaranteed space. If an animal was in a small enclosure, adhering to its MOS, it would defeat the purpose of the bill, which is to guarantee all animals their unalienable right to walk and move about.
10.9 If an animal is sick, aggressive, pregnant, or demands isolation of any kind, inclosing the animal is fine, so long as the room/enclosure follows the MOS, and the animal is not permanently there for an extended time. If an inspector finds the animal has been there unethically, the certified inspector has the right to end the confinement.
10.12 All pregnant and sick animals should have access to bedding (straw, hay, etc.) Being born onto a hard floor subjects newborns to injury and unsanitary conditions (12).
10.13 Factory farms with more than 3 MOS violations in one year shall be subject to a fine and or imprisonment of the proprietor of said CAFO.
