The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed proposals for tighter restrictions on sheep castration and tail docking.
Proposals for tighter restrictions on practices such as sheep castration and tail docking, which Defra said “cause pain to lambs” and are “often carried out without pain relief”, are being consulted on.
To improve welfare for lambs, farmers will be expected to take steps to minimise pain when castration and tail docking has to be carried out. Defra said this could include greater use of pain relief and consideration of alternative methods, which farmers would get improved access to. According to Defra, this reflects the latest scientific evidence and follows advice from the independent Animal Welfare Committee.
Defra also proposed that all colony cage systems across the laying hen sector would be phased out by 2032, including for smaller producers.
Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “We are committed to improving the lives of farm animals and to supporting farmers to produce food sustainably, profitably and to the high standards consumers expect.
“British consumers want high animal welfare standards and these measures reflect those values, creating healthier livestock and high welfare food production.”
Anthony Field, head of Compassion in World Farming UK, commented: “We warmly welcome the UK Government’s leadership in honouring a key commitment in its Animal Welfare Strategy by swiftly launching a consultation on phasing out the use of cages for laying hens. This marks an important and long-awaited step towards ending the cage age.
“We also welcome the launch of a consultation to improve the welfare of lambs. Lambs are routinely subjected to painful, unnecessary mutilations. Castration and tail docking are usually carried out without anaesthetic or pain relief, causing great suffering, so this is an extremely encouraging move.
“We look forward to seeing positive changes for millions of other farmed animals in the coming years and to working with Government to achieve this.”
The proposals will be subject to eight-week consultations, so any impacts on farmers and trade can be considered and managed. Both consultations are now open, and farmers, industry and animal welfare organisations are encouraged to share their views.
