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 individual housing of sheep? Shedded sheep are sometimes called ‘Sharlea sheep’ because they were first kept in sheds at a Victorian property of that...
Why does the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme allow for beak trimming of turkeys? Beak trimming is a procedure that is used to avoid injuries from birds pecking each other, sometimes to death (cannibalism)....
What are the animal welfare impacts of using hormone growth promotants in beef cattle? The use of hormone growth promotants to increase growth rates is a widespread practice in the Australian beef cattle industry...
What are the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme standards for pigs? Through the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme the RSPCA works closely with farmers committed to raising pigs to higher animal welfare standards. Since releasing our first animal welfare standards...
What is calving induction? Calving induction involves administering a drug to dairy cows to stimulate calving before full term. Some dairy farmers do this...
What are the animal welfare issues with pig farming? In Australia, pigs farmed for meat are housed in several types of farming systems including intensive indoor systems, semi-indoor (outdoor...
What are the animal welfare issues with piglet husbandry procedures? In their first few days of life, piglets may undergo several painful husbandry procedures such as teeth clipping, tail docking,...
Is hot iron branding of cattle legal in Australia? The use of hot iron branding of livestock including cattle, horses and other animals is legal in all States and...
What is virtual fencing (or virtual herding) and does it impact animal welfare? What is virtual fencing? Virtual fencing aims to remotely map and control livestock grazing behaviour without the use of fixed...
What is the RSPCA’s view on nose rings for pigs? The RSPCA believes that pigs must not be nose ringed to prevent them from rooting and foraging, as the nose...
Why is it important to declare mulesing status on the National Wool Declaration? What is the National Wool Declaration? In 2008, the Australian Wool Exchange (through which around 90% of Australian wool is...
What are the animal welfare issues associated with cashmere production? Cashmere is a fine fibre that is obtained from Cashmere goats and other similar breeds. The animal welfare issues relate...
What is steining (or sheep freeze branding) and is it an acceptable alternative to mulesing sheep? Sheep, especially Merinos, have woolly wrinkles and folds around the tail and breech area which attract blowflies and may become...