Why are cattle dehorned and is it painful?
Dehorning is the removal of a cow or calf’s horn in order to reduce the incidence of bruising and potential...
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Articles tagged with 'Animal husbandry procedures'
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What is the RSPCA’s view on dubbing poultry for show purposes?
The RSPCA regularly receives complaints from members of the public regarding the practice of dubbing of exhibition poultry. RSPCA policy on... -
Why are many male farm animals castrated?
Male sheep, cattle, goats and pigs are routinely castrated in order to reduce aggression and subsequent injury. Methods of castration... -
Is tethering of farm animals acceptable?
Tethering is where an animal is fastened by a chain to a central anchor point, causing it to be confined... -
What is boar taint and how can it be prevented?
As male pigs reach puberty, they start producing andosterone, a male sex hormone, and skatole, a digestive by-product formed in... -
Why are calves separated from their mother in the dairy industry?
For cows to produce milk, they have to give birth to a calf. Standard dairy industry practice is to separate... -
What are the animal welfare issues with shearing of sheep?
Shearing is the process whereby the sheep’s fleece (wool) is removed using mechanical shears called ‘handpieces’. For sheep breeds that... -
Why is colostrum feeding important for calves?
Colostrum is a fluid produced by the pregnant cow prior to giving birth to her calf in readiness for the... -
How are beef cattle reared?
Beef cattle are reared outdoors in all Australian states and territories. Southern areas with good pasture have herds with a... -
Why does the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme allow for beak trimming of hens?
There are many types of bird-to-bird pecking that hens perform, some types can cause severe injuries to the birds. Injurious... -
What are the animal welfare issues with dairy goat farming?
Goats, particularly young goats, are inquisitive and playful and their housing system must be able to satisfy these natural behaviours.... -
Why do farmed deer have their antlers removed?
The removal of antlers, or de-antlering, of deer is performed to help protect other animals and handlers from injury. However,... -
What are the animal welfare issues with weaning nose rings and other anti-suckling devices for calves?
Anti-suckling devices such as nose rings or nose flaps are designed to wean calves off milk by preventing access to... -
Why are cattle spayed?
Cattle spaying is done to avoid unwanted pregnancy of animals, often in extensive pastoral areas where females cannot be segregated... -
What is teat clipping in dairy calves and goats?
Dairy calves and dairy goat kids may be born with extra teats on the udder, called supernumerary teats. These extra... -
What is beak trimming and why is is carried out?
Beak trimming is the partial removal of the tip of the beak, and results in a beak that is blunt or... -
Why are the tails of dairy cows docked?
Routine tail docking of up to two-thirds of the cow’s tail at 12-18 months old, was adopted by some dairy... -
What is induced cryptorchidism?
Induced cryptorchidism (or crimping) involves applying a rubber ring to a male animal’s scrotum so that the testes are held... -
What is laparoscopic insemination of sheep?
Laparoscopic insemination involves the penetration of the abdominal cavity and deposition of semen directly into the uterus of a ewe... -
Why can’t the RSPCA prosecute farmers for performing painful husbandry procedures without anaesthetic or pain relief?
The RSPCA can only prosecute farmers for cruelty if they have broken laws relating to animal welfare that apply in...