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GUIDE
TO IMPROVING PRACTICES IN CATTLE HUSBANDRY
Author:
RSPCA Australia
RSPCA
Australia (Royal Society for Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals) has welcomed the
release by Meat & Livestock Australia
MLA) of 'A guide to best practice husbandry
in beef cattle - branding, castrating and
dehorning' and has encouraged producers
to embrace the standards.
In addition, the RSPCA
has encouraged the livestock industry as
a whole to continue
developing standards and guidelines to also
improve animal welfare in other practices.
The new cattle husbandry
guide provides livestock producers as well
as agricultural
training institutions with practical guidance
on how the routine husbandry procedures
of branding, castration and dehorning are
currently best carried out.
RSPCA Australia Scientific
Officer (Farm Animals) Melina Tensen said
that while the
RSPCA did not endorse the guide - because
it permits hot-iron branding - the animal
welfare organisation was consulted in its
development and sees the guide as a valuable
tool.
"Importantly, the
guide acknowledges that all these procedures
are painful and distressing for the animals
involved, and subsequently highlights the
need to perform them in a manner that will
reduce the negative impact," said Ms
Tensen.
"RSPCA Australia
is very encouraged to see that the guide
contains reference to
analgesics and anaesthetics, as we strongly
encourage livestock producers to use such
products where available," she said.
"Animal welfare
can also be improved by handling the calf
quietly, performing procedures at an early
age, appropriately restraining the calf,
and ensuring cow and calf are not separated
longer than necessary," said Ms Tensen.
Ms Tensen also said
that while it was likely many producers
would already be performing routine procedures
correctly, the guide would help ensure competence
of operators in using efficient and effective
methods to reduce the pain and distress
experienced by the animals involved.
"The continuing
development of such guidelines by industry
is a reflection of the growing interest
by the public in animal welfare and production
systems," said Ms Tensen.
"We certainly encourage
industry and producers to take proactive
measures that go
beyond the minimum standard set under the
codes of practice, as these will be vital
if they wish to keep up with community expectations",
she said.
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