When Governor Brad Henry signed HB3202, known as the equine dentistry bill, into law April 16, he successfully ended a two-year struggle to help Oklahoma livestock producers continue to care for their horses and other livestock.
“Protecting animal husbandry practices, including equine dentistry, has long been a Farm Bureau priority,” said Mike Spradling, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. “We want livestock producers to be able to humanely care for their animals.”
The equine dentistry issue surfaced when the 2008 Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill making the practice of veterinary medicine without a license, a felony. In 2009 the Legislature reduced the penalty to a misdemeanor. Farm Bureau revisited the issue this year to protect livestock producers, clarifying the acts of animal husbandry, including equine dentistry are not exclusive to the practice of veterinary medicine.
“We needed to support a livestock owner’s right to lawfully perform traditional animal husbandry practices as well as equine dentists, chiropractors and farriers at the discretion of the livestock owner,” Spradling said.
“We want to thank Governor Henry, Rep. Don Armes and State Senator Mike Schulz for their leadership and support on this important issue,” Spradling said.