PAUSE might change ranching practices

Ranch practices such as artificial insemination (AI), pregnancy checking and veal production may be criminalized in Colorado. 

Colorado Ballot Initiative 16 also called Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation (PAUSE), was introduced to Legislative Council Staff on Feb. 8. 

The initiative amends Colorado’s animal cruelty laws to account for animal husbandry practices and animal slaughter age. 

The initiative redefines sexual acts with an animal.

PAUSE states “sexual act with an animal also includes any intrusion or penetration, however slight, with an object or part of a person’s body into an animal’s  anus or genitals.”

This statement could criminalize the use of AI as it involves penetration with an object. 

PAUSE also does not allow for slaughter until the animal has lives a quarter of it’s natural lifespan as defined by act. 

In section 1 3.5 of PAUSE the natural lifespan of species’ are defined.

PAUSE states “natural lifespan for the following species shall be explicitly defined here based on statistical estimates: A cow lives to 20 years, a chicken lives to 8 years, a turkey lives to 10 years, a duck lives to 15 years, a sheep lives to 15 years, a rabbit lives to 6 years.”

Current slaughter ages is younger than a quarter of the animals natural lifespan. 

Cow slaughter would have to occur after age 5, chickens age 2, turkeys age 3.5, ducks age 3.75,  sheep 3.75 and rabbits 1.5.

For PAUSE to appear on ballot in 2022 a petition will need 125,000 signatures. 

The effective date for PAUSE if passed will be April 1, 2023.