Ohio plans to create statewide board to set livestock standards

COLUMBUS — Statehouse Democrats and Republicans and Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland are backing a constitutional amendment that would create a statewide board to set standards of care for livestock.

Companion resolutions have been offered in the Ohio House and Senate calling for the establishment of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, and lawmakers are poised to adopt one of them before breaking for the summer, placing the issue before voters in November.

“I think the industry realizes that consumers are concerned about their food supply, and the industry’s taking the steps to ensure that we have a good, safe, affordable food supply,” said Sen. Bob Gibbs, a Republican from Lakeville whose district includes two of the top three dairy-producing counties in the state.