Is dehorning of cattle legal in Australia?

 ACT

 Yes

No expressed prohibition of dehorning cattle in ACT legislation including the Animal Welfare Act 1992 (ACT) and the Animal Welfare Regulation 2001 (ACT).

The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Cattle is an advisory code approved (but not mandatory) under the Act.  The Code encourages the breeding of polled cattle to prevent the need for cattle dehorning.  It is recommended that dehorning should occur:

• as young as possible and prior to weaning;
• at a suitable time so that flies are not a problem;
• with ongoing inspection for 10 days and with treatment of infected wounds;
• for domestic cattle without analgesics dehorning should be confined to the first muster and preferable before 6 months of age; and
• using scoop dehorners gouging knife or heat cautery as soon as horn buds are detectable or using chemicals by a competent operator within the first few days after birth.

The Code recommends that older cattle can be tipped without local analgesics however adults must be dehorned by a veterinarian using anaesthetic.

 NT

 Yes

The dehorning of cattle is not expressly prohibited by Northern Territory law. 

The Animal Welfare Act 2000 (NT) provides for codes of practice to be adopted by notice in the Government Gazette.  The Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Cattle is an advisory code under the Act.

 SA

 Yes

No expressed prohibition of dehorning cattle in SA legislation including the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and the Animal Welfare Regulations 2012. However procedure must be conducted in accordance with the Australian Animal Welfare Standards for cattle.

The Veterinary Practice Regulations 2005 (SA) exclude the dehorning of cattle under 6 months of age from the definition of veterinary treatment under the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 (SA).  Over the age of 6 months it is an offence for an unqualified person to dehorn cattle for fee or reward.

 VIC

 Yes

Dehorning of cattle is not explicitly prohibited under Victorian legislation. The Code of accepted farming practice for the welfare of cattle (2001) is an advisory code adopted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Vic). In order to comply with the Code dehorning:

• without local anaesthetic or analgesics should be confined to animals less than 6 months of age;
• should be carried out by heat cautery scoop dehorners or a gouging knife; and
• should not be performed using chemicals.

Older cattle may be tipped without anaesthetic.