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68. Managers should ensure that stockmen are allowed sufficient time to monitor herd fertility so as to limit the unnecessary use of hormones or other treatments. Observation for oestrus is necessary at least three times a day, including once in late evening, each for a minimum of 20 minutes (paragraph 256).
69. The welfare of bulls should not be neglected and farmers must adhere to the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 and appropriate welfare codes (paragraph 266).
70. Staff should be properly trained in handling bulls (paragraph 267).
71. Facilities should be provided in the pen and exercise area for the bull to be securely restrained by a yoke, or similar device, to allow for routine husbandry procedures, such as cleaning out and for veterinary treatment (paragraph 268).
72. Under natural service conditions, young bulls should be run with only small groups of cows (ideally about 10-15) and should be offered additional feed as necessary (paragraph 269).
73. All bulls should have good, safe service conditions. Slatted floors and slippery conditions underfoot (e.g. in yards, cubicles and passageways) are not suitable for mating animals (paragraph 270).
74. The requirements of the Bovine Embryo (Collection, Production and Transfer) Regulations 1995 must be carefully adhered to at all times (paragraph 277).
75. The recipient mother should be able to carry the chosen embryo to time and to calve normally, without recourse to caesarean section. Caesarean section must not become a routine part of embryo transfer (paragraph 278).
76. Embryo transfer which does not fulfil the criteria set out in our report should be regarded as causing unnecessary pain and unnecessary distress (paragraph 280).
77. Ovum pick-up should not be used on young, immature heifers (paragraph 284).
78. Repeated epidural injections to allow for collection of oocytes by follicular aspiration as frequently as twice a week can cause welfare problems, such as chronic pain in the tail head and fused vertebrae, and requires urgent study. Pending these results, the frequency of ovum pick-up should be limited. The industry should be required to maintain records of problems caused and to report its findings annually to the Agriculture Departments (paragraph 285).
79. To reduce calving difficulties, care should be taken in the selection of sire. Cows should not be over-fat at drying off or parturition (paragraph 293).
80. Animals should not be mated too young or mated by an inappropriate sire (paragraph 295).
81. The induction of parturition should never be used as a routine procedure. Correct nutrition and sire selection should be the first option and will minimise the need for this technique. However, as a last resort, it may be considered as a way of preventing cows from having to deliver grossly oversized calves (paragraph 296).
82. Induction of parturition should not be used as a management tool if this involves induction well before full-term and production of very premature, unviable calves (paragraph 297).