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...
What are the animal welfare issues with individual housing of sheep? The permanent housing of sheep in a single pen for the purpose of fine wool production was effectively banned in...
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 piglet husbandry procedures? In their first few days of life, piglets may undergo several painful husbandry procedures such as teeth clipping, tail docking,...
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...
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 sheep freeze branding (or steining) 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...