|
111. Calf castration is an undesirable mutilation which should be avoided if at all possible. It should only be carried out to avoid worse welfare problems (paragraph 370).
112. We endorse the existing legislation which states that calves over two months of age must be castrated only by a veterinary surgeon using an anaesthetic (paragraph 371).
113. Non-veterinarians should be suitably trained and competent before carrying out castration (paragraph 373).
114. Non-veterinarians should be suitably trained and competent before carrying out disbudding (paragraph 378).
115. If disbudding is deemed necessary, the procedure should take place before calves are two months of age. The upper age limit is determined by the size of the horn bud. The procedure is easier to perform when the horn buds are small (paragraph 379).
116. The pain and stress which can be caused by chemical cauterisation mean that the method should not be used (paragraph 380).
117. Dehorning must be carried out only by a veterinary surgeon and then only when deemed necessary. It should not be a routine procedure. The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 should be amended accordingly (paragraph 381).
118. If dehorning has to be carried out, pain control methods such as analgesics should be used in addition to local anaesthesia (paragraph 382).
119. Sufficient time should always be allowed for the anaesthetic to take effect before disbudding/dehorning (paragraph 383).
120. Non-veterinarians should be suitably trained and competent before removing supernumerary teats and should use an effective local anaesthesia (paragraph 386).
121. Having suitably disinfected the supernumerary teat, it should be removed with clean, sharp scissors and any haemorrhage arrested (paragraph 387).
122. An ear tag should be lightweight and of a design and material that is easily applied and causes minimal damage to the ear (paragraph 390).
123. As there is a risk of a fly strike to calves kept outdoors in summer soon after application of the tag, fly control measures should be taken and calves should be checked frequently (paragraph 393).