Consultation ahead of animal welfare changes for pain relief

New animal welfare recommendations include pain relief for disbudding and castration of all ages of bovines.

The recommendations by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Animal Health and Welfare (SACAHW) are being considered by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC), and interested parties were asked to make submissions.

In its submission on calf burdizzo castration without anaesthetic, Teagasc did not support recommended pain relief (non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs) at castration, but was in favour of recommendations that the 28 days upper age limit of bovine disbudding, and the eight days upper age limit of lamb tail docking by rubber ring remain unchanged.