A recent case in Texas involving alleged underfeeding of a herd of cattle involved in an inheritance dispute highlights the impact of section 821-021 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.  According to this legislation, a duly authorized law officer can impound animals including herds and flocks considered to be cruelly treated.  This includes over-working, abandonment, deprivation of food, care or shelter or “cruelly confined” housing.

Inclusion of the "cruelly confined" provision is an invitation for animal rights organizations to create mischief by attempting to induce authorities to bring action against egg producers operating confined housing systems.  It is doubtful that any actions under the Texas Health and Safety Code would prevail, but activist are willing to use legal resources at their disposal to generate publicity, denigrate intensive livestock production and inconvenience producers.