‘Free range’, ‘outdoor bred’, ‘organic’ and ‘sow-stall free’ are terms that are applied to animal-based food products, such as meat or eggs. They refer to the way in which animals are farmed and housed. Unfortunately, there are no universally accepted definitions for these terms, but some guidance is provided below….
Mulesing involves cutting crescent-shaped flaps of skin from around a lamb’s breech and tail. When this painful wound heals, it creates an area of bare, stretched scar tissue which has no folds or wrinkles and is less likely to attract blowflies. This makes mulesed sheep less susceptible to flystrike in…
Beef cattle are reared outdoors in all Australian states and territories. Southern areas with good pasture have herds with a high density of stock and northern areas, with less feed, have herds with a low density of stock. Queensland and New South Wales account for 69% of beef and veal…
Farm animals may require invasive husbandry procedures that are intended to benefit the animal or group of animals involved. These include castration, spaying, mulesing (removal of wool-bearing skin from part of the tail and breech area in sheep), dehorning and horn trimming (in cattle, sheep and goats), tail docking of…
The RSPCA can only prosecute farmers for cruelty if they have broken laws relating to animal welfare that apply in their state or territory. If farmers are operating within the law, the RSPCA inspectors who enforce animal protection legislation cannot prosecute them. Under most state and territory legislation relating to…
Routine tail docking of up to two-thirds of the cow’s tail at 12-18 months old, was adopted by some dairy farmers mainly for the benefit of the milker but also in the belief that tail docking reduces the risk of mastitis, improves milk quality, leaves udders cleaner and reduces fly…
The removal of antlers, or de-antlering, of deer is performed to help protect other animals and handlers from injury. However, antlers are also removed in the production of antler velvet which is used for medicinal purposes. Antlers in velvet are growing antlers with a covering of fine soft hair both…
Induced cryptorchidism (or crimping) involves applying a rubber ring to a male animal’s scrotum so that the testes are held against the abdomen. This increases the testicular temperature which results in the animal becoming infertile while still producing the male hormone testosterone. The technique is used because it results in…
Dairy calves and dairy goat kids may be born with extra teats on the udder, called supernumerary teats. These extra teats are non-functional and not harmful but may leak during milking or, occasionally, become infected. In the dairy industry, supernumerary teats are usually removed. The RSPCA believes that the clipping/removal…
Most foie gras (a type of duck/goose liver paté), especially that produced in France, comes from ducks or geese that have been force-fed. During this process, the birds’ beaks are forced open, a tube is passed down the throat, and grain is forced into their stomach under pressure. Birds are…