Wednesday, 28 September 2016 12:38

World Animal Day coming up

Written by 
Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross. Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross.

Agcarm reminds all farm and pet owners of their responsibility to care for the welfare of their animals in recognition of World Animal Day on October 4.

As part of this responsibility, farmers and pet owners can help prevent disease by keeping their animals well fed, physically comfortable, ensuring good husbandry on the farm and by following careful hygiene practices. Owners must also protect their animals by seeking early diagnosis and treatment of infectious, parasitic and metabolic diseases including lameness and traumatic injuries.

Agcarm chief executive Mark Ross says “caring for our animals is not just an ethical and moral responsibility, it’s a legal one too”.

“Prevention and early treatment of disease is crucial to the wellbeing of an animal, as it is to feed and shelter them.”

Vaccination is an effective, convenient and easy way to protect animals against many infectious diseases. By safely stimulating an animal’s immune system against a specific disease, the animal has a defence against it, if it is exposed to that disease later in life.

But because bacteria and other microbes are found everywhere, it is virtually impossible to prevent animals coming into contact with organisms that can cause disease.

Antibiotics are necessary to fight bacterial infections in farm animals. Inflammatory conditions like mastitis and lameness are extremely painful for animals.

Antibiotics also help control a range of painful bacterial conditions in pets such as ear, skin, respiratory and bladder infections.

As far back as records show, people have had strong relationships with animals and have often been dependent on them. In return, we all have a responsibility to respect and care for our animal species by preventing and treating disease. Owners now also have a legal obligation to avoid suffering.

Agcarm advocates the responsible use of all veterinary medicines to care and maintain the health and wellbeing of all animals.

Agcarm recognises World Animal Day in raising the status of animals by improving welfare standards for animals around the world.

World Animal Day presents a wonderful opportunity for everyone who cares about animals to be seen standing united with animal advocates around the globe, in order to heighten awareness of animal issues.

More like this

New CEO for wood processors

Mark Ross has started in his new role as chief executive of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ (WPMA).

Combined voice

The two associations representing NZ's crop protection and animal health industries will merge this month.

Featured

McIvor moving to OSPRI

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive for the past eight years, Sam McIvor is heading for new pastures at Ospri, which runs NZ’s integrated animal disease management and traceability service.

Off the radar

A year on and the problems created by Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle has largely dropped off the radar of media and politicians.

National

Well said at the shed

Less Wellington bureucracy and more local, on-farm common sense was the focus of recent meetings held in South Canterbury as…

Wool campaign making strides

A group set up to boost education and promotion of wool says it has made positive strides during the first…

Machinery & Products

Factory clocks up 60 years

There can't be many heavy metal fans who haven’t heard of Basildon, situated about 40km east of London and originally…

PM opens new Power Farming facility

Morrinsville based Power Farming Group has launched a flagship New Zealand facility in partnership with global construction manufacturer JCB Construction.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Wrong, again!

OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…

Reality check

OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter