PETA wants web cams in shearing sheds
Animal rights protest group PETA is calling for Agriculture Minister Todd McClay to introduce legislation which would make it mandatory to have live-streaming web cameras in all New Zealand shearing shed.
New animal welfare regulations come into effect on 9 May. These will affect many common procedures carried out on farms, such as tall docking and treatment of bearings.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand's senior advisor, biosecurity and animal welfare, Will Halliday, says the Significant Surgical Procedures regulations cover a range of procedures undertaken on animals - from specialist veterinary-only operations to routine on-farm procedures.
Bearings
Under the regulations, a bearing in a sheep may be treated by any competent person with the appropriate knowledge, experience, and equipment to do so. This includes treatment of a complete prolapse of the uterus.
Halliday says treatment of a bearing in a cow is a more difficult procedure, and this is reflected in the regulations.
"A competent person may replace a vaginal prolapse in a cattle beat provided the animal is under the influence of pain relief provided by a veterinarian."
He says failure to comply can mean a fine of up to $3,000 for an individual and $15,000 for a body corporate.
"Treatment of a prolapsed uterus in a cattle beast can only be undertaken by a veterinarian."
Tail-docking
The new regulations stipulate that lambs under the age of six months can be docked by a competent person using eithter a hot iron or rubber ring.
No other methods of tail docking are permitted. Failure to comply can mean a fine of up to $1,500.
"There is also a new requirement that the length of the docked tail must be no shorter than the end of the caudal fold - the fold of skin that runs from the underside of the tail to either side of the anus," Halliday explains.
He says the new regulations brings New Zealand's rules into line with those of our major trading partners, which require the docked tail to entirely cover the vulva in ewe lambs and an equivalent length in males.
"Failure to comply can mean an infringement fee of $500, with fines on coviction for repeat offences of up to $1,500 for an individual and $7,500 for a body corporate. Tail length will be assessed at the slaughter plant."
docking lambs tails which are older than six months is now a veterinary-only procedure.
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.
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