Court upholds exotic swine ban

By Rick Pluta

The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld a state rule that outlaws about 130 species of swine. But, the decision does not end the fight over regulating pigs.

The rule is supposed to help the state halt the spread of feral swine, which is often blamed on exotic breeds that escape from hunting ranches and farms.     
   
But critics of the rule say it goes too far, in part, because it's hard to tell one breed of pig from another, especially after species inter-breed.
   
Scott Everett represents pig breeders and hunting ranches. He said there are still a lot of questions on which pigs are legal and which are a banned species when the state starts enforcing the rule April first.

"This reaches pretty deep. It depends on what a particular swine looks like, no matter whether it's in a hunting preserve or a small farm operation that's raising specialties meats."

There are still other legal challenges pending on how the state will enforce the rule, and whether it amounts to the government illegally seizing property.

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