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Farming
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Cattle welfare regulations New animal welfare regulations, announced recently by the Ministry for Primary Industries, have been endorsed by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ. Their introduction, to support compliance with New Zealand’s animal welfare legislation, will add further weight to New Zealand’s animal welfare standards, according to Beef + Lamb. Dave Harrison, general manager policy and advocacy, said World Animal Protection has given New Zealand an A ranking on its Animal Protection Index, one of only four countries to achieve that standard. “This reflects the fact we have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and it is important that these high standards are maintained,” he said. B+LNZ worked alongside Federated Farmers and the Ministry for Primary Industries to develop the new regulations to ensure that the high expectations the industry has around the care of animals is upheld in a sensible and practicable way. “There is still some work to do to achieve the outcomes we want to see. Requiring pain relief for dehorning and disbudding, for example, is a good step forward. But we also need to ensure farmers have easier and more cost-effective access to analgesics,” Harrison said. “Farmers want to do the right thing and feel a duty of responsibility to ensure the care of their animals. As an industry, it is important to support this by setting an expectation and holding people to account for meeting it. “But as our expectations evolve we need to make sure farmers have the tools to
CATTLE REGULATIONS WRAP The significant proposed regulations relating to cattle include: Stock transport – animals with ingrown horns or horn injuries, lame animals, animals with injured or diseased udders, and with advanced cancer eye, will not be acceptable for transport unless a veterinarian has provided a certificate. Tail docking – a person must not shorten or remove the tail of any cattle beast. Castration – when castrating or shortening the scrotum of a bull over the age of six months, pain relief must be used (for any method of castration). If high tension bands are used to castrate an animal, local anaesthetic must be used to provide pain relief (at any age). Disbudding – pain relief required at all ages. DairyNZ strategy and investment portfolio manager Jenny Jago said the new regulations are a positive move
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meet them, and the focus of B+LNZ will be on making sure that that is the case,” he said. DairyNZ strategy and investment portfolio manager Jenny Jago said the new regulations are a positive move. “New Zealand is already recognised as having a strong reputation for animal welfare and these regulations will further strengthen the framework that underpins this,” she said. “We support regulations which benefit animal welfare outcomes. Cows, and people are the heart of every farming business and the majority
of dairy farmers take real pride in their herd’s care and how farming practices are undertaken on-farm. “Many dairy farmers are meeting these regulations now and it is positive that standards have been set so, as a sector, we all meet high standards of animal welfare. “DairyNZ has worked closely with MPI to ensure the new regulations will enhance New Zealand’s reputation for good animal welfare and this aligns with the Dairy Tomorrow aim for New Zealand farmers to be world leading in on-farm animal care.”
Dehorning – pain relief required at all ages. Assisting calving cows – no use of traction with a moving vehicle, motorised winch or any other device that does not allow for the quick release of tension for the purposes of calving cows. Other regulations – not owning cattle with ingrown horns, prohibited methods of milk stimulation, a minimum weight for the use of electric prodders, approved methods of castration. Most of the regulations come into force on October 1 this year, except for pain relief requirements for disbudding and dehorning cattle, which come into effect on October 1, 2019. Farmers can find out more information about the new regulations and the related fines and regulatory offence information at www.mpi.govt.nz
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Round bale feeder
A
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