"Calving, castration and dehorning are painful procedures for the animals involved."
DEAR EDITOR,
Your study guide article in the Irish Farmers Journal, issued on 1 April (pages 66-67) referred to the use of essential equipment in relation to calving, castration and dehorning. Calving, castration and dehorning are painful procedures for animals involved. The inappropriate use of essential equipment like the calving jack, burdizzo, elastrator and disbudding iron can cause significantly greater pain and injury to these animals.
The article refers to the importance of having experience in using such equipment, but makes no reference to the importance of training. To ensure good animal welfare, it is vital that equipment like the calving jack, burdizzo, elastrator and disbudding iron are used by farmers who have been properly trained in their use, along with the pain relief requirements and legal restrictions around their use.
Veterinary Ireland recommends that the use of such equipment should be avoided where possible – for example, by only using easy-calving bulls; and where procedures such as castration or dehorning must be performed, that they are done at as young an age as possible by a farmer who is trained and competent to do so.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access for 30 days.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
DEAR EDITOR,
Your study guide article in the Irish Farmers Journal, issued on 1 April (pages 66-67) referred to the use of essential equipment in relation to calving, castration and dehorning. Calving, castration and dehorning are painful procedures for animals involved. The inappropriate use of essential equipment like the calving jack, burdizzo, elastrator and disbudding iron can cause significantly greater pain and injury to these animals.
The article refers to the importance of having experience in using such equipment, but makes no reference to the importance of training. To ensure good animal welfare, it is vital that equipment like the calving jack, burdizzo, elastrator and disbudding iron are used by farmers who have been properly trained in their use, along with the pain relief requirements and legal restrictions around their use.
Veterinary Ireland recommends that the use of such equipment should be avoided where possible – for example, by only using easy-calving bulls; and where procedures such as castration or dehorning must be performed, that they are done at as young an age as possible by a farmer who is trained and competent to do so.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS