Farmers support blunt force ban except in emergencies

Federated Farmers is welcoming the ban on manual blunt force trauma as a routine method for euthanising calves, but is welcoming its retention for emergency euthanasia.

“Federated Farmers was one of the many submitters who supported the change to the code of welfare for dairy cattle,” says Willy Leferink, Co-Animal Welfare spokesperson.

“Euthanising any animal requires great skill to achieve rapid death. This is a skill not everyone is up for due to obvious reasons and we are grateful the code revision agrees. Any of the recommended methods require genuine skill.

“It is why we look forward to working with the Ministry, DairyNZ and veterinarians to ensure that the right training is available to farmers.

“No matter what method is used, we believe death must be swift and confirmed before the animal is left.

“We appreciate that NAWAC has recognised the emergency use of blunt force. The only other alternative was for farmers to carry a weapon every time they went on-farm, which was neither safe nor sensible.

“Emergencies can happen anywhere on-farm involving sick and injured stock or calves that are born with deformities or injuries. The quickest and most humane act may in fact be blunt force trauma.

“Again, Federated Farmers commends NAWAC for acknowledging that emergency slaughter is a skilled operation to be undertaken only by trained and competent staff.

“I would have issued this release earlier but cellphone access in Canterbury, only four kilometres out of Rakaia, has been shockingly poor today.

“You have got to wonder how we will double our primary exports if cellular access and cellular broadband is much better in third countries,” Mr Leferink concluded.

ends

© Scoop Media