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B1 |
Farm animals – general principles
(adopted 01/08/08) |
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1.1 |
RSPCA Australia believes
that, throughout every stage of the production process,
people in charge of the care and management of farm
animals should be aware of their responsibilities,
should engage in caring and responsible planning and
management, and practise considerate handling and
transport to ensure the welfare of the animal concerned. |
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1.2 |
RSPCA Australia recognises
that good stockmanship, i.e. the
knowledge, skill, attitude and behaviour necessary to handle
animals in a manner that does not compromise their welfare, is
essential for the well-being of farm animals.
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1.3 |
RSPCA Australia believes that all production systems should
be subject to regulation and independent auditing to ensure that
the welfare of farm animals is not compromised.
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1.4 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed
to all forms of farming and animal husbandry practices
which cause injury, suffering or distress to animals, or
which unreasonably restrict their movements and/or
behavioural patterns which are necessary for the
well-being of the species concerned. |
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B2 |
Intensive farming practices
(adopted 01/08/08) |
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2.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed
to the confinement of animals or husbandry and
management procedures which deny the animal freedom of
movement and the ability to satisfy its behavioural,
social and physiological needs. |
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See also: Position Paper B2.2 Factors influencing the welfare of
animals subjected to intensive animal systems |
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2.2 |
Aquaculture |
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2.2.1 |
RSPCA Australia believes
that aquaculture (the farming of fish and crustaceans)
should only occur where the management, husbandry and
environmental conditions provided are designed to
minimise any associated injury, suffering or distress to
the animals. |
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2.2.2 |
Factors influencing the welfare of farmed fish and
crustaceans include water quality, water temperature, food and
feeding, stocking density, equipment (including housing),
husbandry practices, health, humane slaughter as well as
handling, transport, predator control and environmental
enrichment. |
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| 2.3 |
Housing of pigs |
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| 2.3.1 |
RSPCA Australia believes that housing systems for pigs
must consist of enhanced indoor environments or well-managed
extensive outdoor systems and must provide the space or
environment to cater for the behavioural, social and
physiological needs of sows, gilts, boars, and piglets.
Providing pigs with the space and environment to root, forage
and explore is particularly important. |
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| 2.3.2 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the tethering of sows and
the use of traditional single stalls for housing sows during
pregnancy because of the restrictions and adverse effects that
these housing methods have on pigs’ movement, social
interactions and behaviour. |
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| 2.3.3 |
Housing systems for lactating sows must be designed and
operated in such a way to safeguard the welfare of both the sow
and her piglets. RSPCA Australia supports the use of farrowing
systems that provide freedom of movement and meet the sow’s and
piglets’ behavioural and physiological needs. |
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| 2.3.4 |
Pigs must have free access to a suitable type and quantity
of dry, clean bedding materials at all times. The provision of
adequate bedding is particularly important for farrowing sows to
facilitate nesting behaviour. |
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See also: RSPCA accreditation standards for pigs |
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| 2.4 |
Housing of sheep |
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| 2.4.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the individual penning of
housed sheep due to the inevitable suffering caused by the
restriction of the animal’s movements and behavioural patterns. |
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| 2.4.2 |
If sheep are to be housed, they must be penned in groups
to allow flocking behaviour and have sufficient space to allow
all animals to lie down at the same time. |
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| 2.4.3 |
Housed sheep must have free access to a suitable type and
quantity of dry, clean bedding materials at all times. |
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| 2.5 |
Cages for poultry |
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| 2.5.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the keeping of poultry
(layer hens and breeders) in cages – be they conventional or
enriched – because of the restrictions and adverse effects that
these housing methods have on a bird’s movement, social
interactions and behaviour. |
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| 2.5.2 |
RSPCA Australia supports housing systems that protect the
welfare of the individual bird and in which the hens can perch,
roost, dustbathe, forage for food, satisfy their urge to lay
their eggs in a nest and in which stocking density is
appropriate to allow hens to stand properly, walk and stretch or
flap their wings. |
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| 2.5.3 |
Housing systems for poultry must protect the individual
bird from predation, disease and weather extremes. |
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See also: RSPCA accreditation standards for layer hens |
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| 2.6 |
Poultry used for meat
production |
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| 2.6.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to systems in which the welfare
of poultry used for meat production, at any stage of the
production process, is compromised to the extent that the bird
suffers pain, injury or distress. |
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| 2.6.2 |
RSPCA Australia supports poultry meat production systems
in which breeding programs and on-farm management has eliminated
leg weakness, joint problems and other factors associated with
fast growth rate and in which the housing, husbandry and
management provide for the health and welfare needs of the
individual bird. |
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| 2.7 |
Feedlots |
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| 2.7.1 |
Feedlots are yarded areas in which cattle and sheep are
held in close confinement and where food and water must be
supplied mechanically or by hand for the duration of the
confinement. |
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| 2.7.2 |
RSPCA Australia advocates that the establishment and
continued operation of feedlots be regulated, independently
audited and, at the very minimum, operated in accordance with
the relevant Standard/Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of
Animals. The feedlot must provide for: |
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a |
The proper construction and maintenance of
facilities to high standards and the employment
of full time, well trained and sufficient
personnel. |
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The correct siting of the feedlot to meet
the needs of the confined animals for proper
shelter from the weather, a well drained, hard
standing surface and a constant supply of
suitable and sufficient food and water. |
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c |
The full-time employment of veterinarians
experienced with feedlot animals whose
instructions regarding the maintenance of animal
health and welfare must be followed. |
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d |
Sick animals to be quickly identified and
isolated in proper sick bay facilities with
appropriate treatment instituted. |
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Special facilities for the proper care and
handling of offspring born to confined mothers. |
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f |
Constant monitoring of food quality,
palatability, and disease processes. |
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| 2.7.3 |
RSPCA Australia supports the adoption of strategies to
prevent heat stress in feedlot animals during periods of the
year that present a risk of such a condition occurring. |
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See also: Position Paper B2.2 Factors influencing the welfare of
animals subjected to intensive animal systems |
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B3 |
Breeding of farm animals
(adopted 01/08/08) |
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| 3.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the selection of animals for
accelerated growth rates or enhanced production capacity where
this may inhibit normal activity and cause metabolic or skeletal
defects, chronic lameness or pain. |
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| 3.2 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to breeding programs and/or
reproductive technologies which cause or are likely to cause
suffering or damage to donors, recipients and their offspring. |
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See also: D2 Genetic manipulation |
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| 3.3 |
Bull serving capacity test |
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RSPCA Australia does not support the use of restrained heifers
or cows for the purpose of testing the serving capacity of
bulls, because the method pays insufficient regard to the
welfare of the cow/heifer. |
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B4 |
Farm animal husbandry and management
(adopted 01/08/08) |
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| 4.1 |
RSPCA Australia believes that farm animal husbandry and
management practices should provide for the behavioural, social
and physiological needs of the individual animal and not cause
unnecessary injury, suffering or distress. |
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| 4.2 |
RSPCA Australia encourages the principle of planned herd or
flock health management and encourages farmers and veterinarians
to work together to prevent, monitor and respond to existing and
emerging farm animal welfare concerns. |
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| 4.3 |
RSPCA Australia believes that those husbandry and management
procedures that require an animal to be handled or restrained
must take place in an appropriate location with facilities and
equipment that do not cause injury, suffering or distress to the
animal concerned. |
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| 4.4 |
Housing of farm animals
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RSPCA Australia believes that housing systems for farm animals
must be designed and operated in such a way to safeguard the
health and welfare of the species concerned, from birth to
slaughter, while at the same time providing freedom of movement
and satisfying the animal’s behavioural, social and
physiological needs. |
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| 4.5 |
Identification of farm animals |
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| 4.5.1 |
RSPCA Australia supports the identification of farm
animals for on-farm management and to enable tracking from birth
to slaughter. |
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a |
The preferred method is by eartag, microchip or other
electronic methods which cause minimal pain or suffering. |
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b |
Tattooing, branding or tagging must be
carried out humanely and according to best
practice. |
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Where branding is mandatory or considered
necessary, freeze branding should be used. The
branding site must be chosen to avoid sensitive
areas such as the cheek. |
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| 4.5.2 |
The RSPCA believes that hot iron (fire) branding and ear
mutilation (notching/cutting) are unacceptable means of
identification. |
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| 4.6 |
Invasive animal
husbandry procedures |
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| 4.6.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to any invasive animal
husbandry procedure for which there is no established need,
which only benefit the human handler of the animals concerned,
or that is performed to overcome the adverse effects upon
animals of the production system they are in. |
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| 4.6.2 |
If an invasive procedure is to be performed, it must be
undertaken at the earliest age possible, be performed by an
accredited operator and be accompanied by appropriate
pain-relieving and/or pain-preventing products. |
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See also: Position Paper B2.1 Surgical animal husbandry
procedures |
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| 4.7 |
Electroimmobilisation of animals |
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| 4.7.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the technique of electroimmobilisation to prevent voluntary movement of fully
conscious animals. RSPCA Australia supports the use of
alternative, humane restraining devices that do not cause
injury, suffering or distress to the animal concerned. |
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| 4.8 |
Induced calving |
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| 4.8.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of induced calving
as a husbandry practice to regularise milk production in a dairy
herd as it causes serious welfare problems for the cow and calf,
often resulting in the death of the calf. |
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| 4.8.2 |
RSPCA Australia supports herd management programs that
allow cows to reach full term and calve unassisted. |
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See also: Position Paper B3.7 Welfare of bobby calves on farm |
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| 4.9 |
Forced moulting of layer hens |
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RSPCA Australia is opposed to the practice of forced moulting,
where food and water are withheld for extended periods to extend
the productive life of layer hens, as it causes the hen
unnecessary distress. |
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See also: RSPCA accreditation standards for layer hens |
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| 4.10 |
Use of electric prodders and other handling aids |
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| 4.10.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the use of electric
prodders for moving farm animals. |
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| 4.10.2 |
RSPCA Australia advocates the use of handling aids that
are suitable for the farm animal being handled and that do not
cause pain, injury or distress. Handling aids used to move farm
animals may include flappers, backing boards, rattlers, canes
with flags attached, hand, arm or body of the animal handler and
effectively controlled dogs. |
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| 4.11 |
Grazing for the control of toxic weeds |
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RSPCA Australia is opposed
to the grazing of sheep, goats or other animals as a
means of controlling toxic weeds where there is a
potential deleterious effect of these plants on grazing
animals |
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B5 |
Euthanasia of farm animals
(adopted 01/08/08) |
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RSPCA Australia advocates that farm animals which have to be
killed due to premature birth, physical weakness, serious injury
or disease should be humanely and competently euthanased on site
without delay. |
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B6 |
Farming of non-domesticated species (adopted 01/08/08) |
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| 6.1 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the farming of
non-domesticated species until farming systems are developed
that have no adverse effect on the welfare of the animal
involved. |
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| 6.2 |
Where farming of non-domesticated species occurs, RSPCA
Australia advocates its regulation through a system of licensing
incorporating, at the very minimum, the relevant Standard/Model
Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, thus enabling
monitoring of the industry. |
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| 6.3 |
Deer farming |
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| 6.3.1 |
Deer farming is acceptable where proper animal husbandry
procedures, with due regard to animal welfare principles, are
practised. All surgical procedures, for example antler removal
and castration, must be performed under general anaesthesia in
the presence and under the direct supervision of a veterinary
surgeon. |
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| 6.3.2 |
RSPCA Australia is opposed to the removal of antlers in
velvet for commercial sale. |
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See also: Position Paper B2.1 Surgical animal husbandry
procedures |
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6.4 |
Farming of ratites |
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RSPCA Australia is opposed to ratite (ostrich and emu) farming
because their confinement, transport and slaughter are likely to
cause injury, suffering or distress to the animals concerned. |
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B7 |
Sale of livestock for home slaughter
(adopted 01/08/08) |
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RSPCA Australia is opposed to the sale at (street) markets and
saleyards of individual farm animals destined for home slaughter
because it cannot be guaranteed that such animals will be
humanely and competently handled, transported and slaughtered. |
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See also: |
G1 Humane killing |
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F1 Transportation – General principles |
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F2 Transportation of livestock for slaughter |
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B8 |
Labelling of products derived from farm animals
(adopted
01/08/08) |
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| 8.1 |
RSPCA Australia supports the provision of information on
animal welfare to consumers of products derived from farm
animals, including accurate labelling to indicate the source of
the product, the type of housing provided and the standards of
husbandry, transport and slaughter of the animals concerned. |
