Media Release
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27 February 2014

Farmers support bobby calves welfare review

Federated Farmers is supporting a review to assess if the use of blunt force should be prohibited, except, as an emergency measure. 

“Any review must set in stone that blunt force is an emergency measure, when there is no access to one of the approved methods and the time to get hold of one would only add to the animals’ suffering,” says Andrew Hoggard, Federated Farmers Vice-Chairperson.

“Frankly it is not a nice task and I am thankful that in over 18 years of farming, I have only ever had to use it once and that was when I was farming overseas.  My personal experience, involving a mower, illustrates just what an emergency is. 

“It is why here we need to more clearly articulate what situation is an emergency.

“The Minister is right to say that the vast majority of farmers in New Zealand care about their animals and do a good job of looking after them.

“There is no way blunt force ought to be standard operating procedure and we welcome the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) considering amendment along these lines,” Mr Hoggard concluded.

ENDS

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