Ban animal mutilations

Published on Thursday 3 July 2008 21:33

I am sure Dan Buglass did not mean to be flippant or inhumane when he described the tail-docking of 15 million young lambs, without anaesthetic or analgesia, as a "slight modification of their physiology" (Farming, 3 July).

But it was disappointing to see his negative reaction, and that of NFU Scotland, to the authoritative report from the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) on the castration and tail-docking of lambs. This independent advisory body comprises academics, vets and animal health officials and has spent years considering these mutilations. Is this expertise to be ignored because the findings challenge tradition?

Castration causes severe pain – studies have described lambs writhing, kicking, lying down and standing up repeatedly or lying inert for long periods. Tail-docking also causes prolonged pain but continues to be used, even though – as the report concludes – it may at best be only partially effective in reducing flystrike, and other methods could be much better used.

Government advice to farmers has long been these two mutilations should not be practised: the FAWC report gives strength to the argument this must be enforced by law.

LIBBY ANDERSON

Advocates for Animals

Queensferry Street

Edinburgh