The California secretary of state has formally designated the Farm Animal Initiative of 2008 as Proposition 2 on the upcoming November ballot. The initiative, sponsored by a coalition of animal-rights groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, got on the ballot after collecting the required number of voter signatures. If passed, the proposition would require that gestation sows, egg-laying hens and veal calves have enough room to lie down, stand, turn around and fully extend their limbs. In essence, it would end the use of gestation-sow stalls, which has already occurred in Florida, Arizona, Colorado and Oregon. Californians for Safe Food, which fought to keep the proposition off the ballot, says that in addition to creating costly consequences for livestock producers, the initiative jeopardizes food safety and public health.

-from Drovers Alert