FARMED CAMELIDS in New Zealand

Transcription

1 Welfare pulse DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 03 Overcoming difficult births in Belgian Blue beef cattle Animal education in schools FARMED CAMELIDS in New Zealand Animal Welfare in New Zealand and around the world

2 Welfare Pulse Welfare Pulse is published three times a year by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). It is of special relevance to those with an interest in domestic and international animal welfare developments. The articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect Government policy. For enquiries about specific articles, refer to the contact listed at the end of each article. Cover photo: Brian Pinkerton For general enquiries, (for example, circulation requests or information about the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) contact: Welfare Pulse Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Animal Welfare Directorate PO Box 2526 Pastoral House 25 The Terrace Wellington 6140, New Zealand Tel: Fax: Animal Welfare complaints: animalwelfare@maf.govt.nz ISSN (Print) ISSN (Online) In this issue... Recent OIE animal welfare developments 1 Your feedback 2 Feedback sought on draft Code of Welfare 3 Codes of Welfare update on issue, consultation, development and review 3 Farmed camelids in New Zealand 4 Codes of ethical conduct approvals, notifications and terminations since issue 2 5 Overcoming difficult births in Belgian Blue beef cattle 6 Leading RTT based on the use of animals 8 ANZCCART Animal Ethics Committee Member Outstanding Service Awards 9 Animal manipulation statistics due 9 ANZCCART New Zealand animal care technician s award 10 Minor amendments to codes of ethical conduct 10 Inaugural SPCA cupcake day a resounding success 11 NAEAC Occasional Papers series 11 Understanding pig welfare 12 Animal education in schools 13 Proactive bobby calf programme 14 UNITEC animal welfare programme 15 A forum for companion animals 16 Safeguarding our animals safeguarding our reputation 17 Animal welfare and pest management research 18 Massey shares computer-aided learning 20 The search for pain indicators in cats, horses and rabbits 21 Kiwis love eggs 23 Working horses human behaviour change 24 New legislation to improve animal welfare at slaughter 25 The gap between science and Animal Welfare Standards 26 Promoting humane treatment of animals 27 Compassion targets food industry 28 Humane slaughter award goes to Massey scientist 29 Reflections on WSPA leadership 30 Animal Welfare Award winner 31 NAIT, NAIS and the perils of a common language upcoming events 33 World Congress on alternatives 34 International animal welfare conferences in Australia 35 Publications Available 36 Across our desks 37

3 Editorial Recent OIE Animal Welfare Developments The recently-approved Trans- Tasman OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis is of considerable domestic and international strategic significance. As indicated in the Welfare Pulse 2 article Massey s Future Focus Promotes Animal Welfare, recognition of the expanded OIE Collaborating Centre took place in May 2009 at the 77th OIE General Session. Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres have, historically, played a critical role in the OIE s international animal health role. The results of a survey of OIE members, presented at the 2007 General Session, confirmed a high level of support for also following the Collaborating Centre model in relation to OIE s international animal welfare standard setting role. The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Dell Abruzzo e del Molise OIE Collaborating Centre in Teramo, Italy was recognised to have animal welfare capability in 2005 and, in 2007, the Massey University Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics was approved as an OIE Collaborating Centre. The expansion of the Massey Centre to include AgResearch and three Australian groups draws upon, and harnesses, the expertise and experience of five internationally recognised centres of excellence. The range of animal welfare issues that are being, and have been, addressed in both countries covers virtually all areas of OIE interest and includes experience with both intensive and extensive livestock management systems. Both the New Zealand and Australian Governments have demonstrated their commitment to the aims and objectives of the OIE over many years, including through international extension and technical aid programmes. Both countries have also developed a strategic approach to animal welfare policy and practice. The five New Zealand and Australian research groups, which now make up the multi-centre expanded Collaborating Centre have, historically, worked closely together and this new arrangement, to some extent, formalises the existing modus operandi. In addition to comprehensive research programmes, all five groups are actively involved, to varying degrees, in training and extension activities, standards development and design of quality assurance programmes. They also work closely with industry groups and animal welfare NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations), in addition to Government. New Zealand and Australia are two of 33 countries within the OIE Asia, the Far East and Oceania region; a region which includes the largest number of humans and animals of all the five OIE regions... David Bayvel Director Animal Welfare MAF Biosecurity New Zealand New Zealand and Australia are two of 33 countries within the OIE Asia, the Far East and Oceania region; a region which includes the largest number of humans and animals of all the five OIE regions and presents significant animal welfare challenges and opportunities. In addition to providing support within the region, the expanded Collaborating Centre will also provide support to the OIE centrally, to the Animal Welfare Working Group and to ad hoc groups established to address specific issues. The activities of the Centre will accord with the OIE rules for Collaborating Centres (see organisation/enreglement/cc.htm). The Centre will be established for an initial period of four years, will meet at least twice annually and will submit a formal annual report to the OIE Central Bureau. The Centre is managed by a seven member Centre Management Committee, which includes representatives from: Welfare Pulse December

4 Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand; Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, Massey University, New Zealand; AgResearch Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Centre, New Zealand; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Queensland, Australia; Division of Livestock Industries, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Animal Welfare Group, Australia. A very successful first meeting of the Centre Management Committee was held at Massey on 27 October Since 2002, New Zealand and Australia have provided significant support for the animal welfare initiative included in the third and fourth OIE Strategic Plans. This multi-centre/government partnership Collaborating Centre, focused on regional needs, is seen to be a potential model to be followed by other OIE regions. It will also ensure that New Zealand and Australia continue to be positioned in an internationallyrecognised animal welfare leadership role. A copy of the OIE collaborating flyer is available on request from animalwelfare@maf.govt.nz. A C David Bayvel Director Animal Welfare MAF Biosecurity New Zealand david.bayvel@maf.govt.nz Management committee members Professor Paul Hemsworth, Dr Peter Thornber, Professor Kevin Stafford, Dr Kate Littin, Professor David Mellor, Dr Lindsay Matthews, Dr David Bayvel, Dr Chris Prideaux, Dr Andrew Tribe. Your feedback We look forward to hearing your views on Welfare Pulse and welcome your comment on what you would like to see more of, less of, or something new that we have yet to cover. Please send your feedback to us by ing animalwelfare@maf.govt.nz Get Welfare Pulse direct to your inbox If you would prefer to receive your copy of Welfare Pulse by , please contact us at animalwelfare@maf.govt.nz and we will add you to our electronic subscription list. General subscriptions Please contact us by at animalwelfare@maf.govt.nz if you no longer wish to receive Welfare Pulse, or need to change the address/contact name we have on file. 2 Welfare Pulse December 2009

5 NAWAC News Feedback sought ON DRAFT CODE OF WELFARE CODES OF WELFARE update on issue, consultation, development and review Codes of welfare issued during 2009: None Minimum standards of animal welfare and recommended best practices for everyone involved in animal transport in New Zealand are outlined in a draft code of welfare released for consultation by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) in mid October. The code is intended to encourage all those responsible for the welfare of animals during transport to exceed minimum standards and adopt best industry practices of husbandry, care and handling. Covering all animals and all forms of transport within New Zealand, the code includes transport by air, land and sea. Proposed minimum standards include equipment design and maintenance; preparation and selection of animals for transport; loading and unloading; the provision of food, water and rest and responsibilities to meet stockmanship, competency and code requirements. Specific requirements for transport in emergencies and emergency humane destruction are also included. NAWAC Chairman Dr John Hellström says transport can have a significant impact on animal welfare if done poorly and this code is a high priority for NAWAC for that reason. Transportation of animals is stressful and the purpose of this code of welfare is to encourage everyone responsible for the transport to minimise that stress by adopting the highest standards during transport. Transportation of animals is stressful and the purpose of this code of welfare is to encourage everyone responsible for the transport to minimise that stress by adopting the highest standards during transport. This code is the first to be produced with suggested indicators for assessing animal welfare for each minimum standard. NAWAC sought public feedback on the draft code until the end of November and will now review all submissions. Consultation on codes of welfare: Commercial slaughter: Code recommended to Minister Dairy cattle: Code recommended to Minister Dogs: Code recommended to Minister Sheep and beef cattle: submissions being considered by NAWAC Codes of welfare under development: Transport in New Zealand Goats Temporary housing (including boarding establishments) Camelids Codes of welfare under review: Broiler Chickens Layer Hens Pigs Cheryl O Connor Programme Manager Animal Welfare Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry cheryl.o connor@maf.govt.nz Welfare Pulse December

6 FARMED CAMELIDS in New Zealand New Zealand is home to more than farmed llamas, alpacas, guanacos and their crosses. Llamas and alpacas were first brought into the country in the late 1800s and attempts were made to establish wild herds, while guanacos came in as zoo stock in the 1950s. Since then, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and the Sustainable Farming Fund, camelid farming in New Zealand has grown under the watch of thriving industry organisations (the New Zealand Llama Association and the Alpaca Association of New Zealand). The llama and alpaca industries have been proactive in pursuing the development of a code of welfare for camelids. A code of welfare for domestic camelids The llama and alpaca industries have been proactive in pursuing the development of a code of welfare for camelids. With support from the Sustainable Farming Fund, a writing group led by Penny King (Vice President of the New Zealand Llama Association) and Stephen Mulholland (Chairperson of the Alpaca Health Sub Committee) has now developed a draft code of welfare to cover all camelids kept domestically or farmed in New Zealand. Members of the llama and alpaca associations have already demonstrated an interest in the proper care of their animals and are unlikely to be ill-treating them. However, every year thousands of camelids are sold as pets throughout New Zealand, and some sadly do fall into situations of abuse or neglect. Codes of welfare have both a legal effect and an educational role both are important in this situation, says Penny. The alpaca industry is keen to be seen as responsible and forward-thinking in its approach to animal welfare, like other pastoral farming groups in New Zealand adds Stephen. Alpacas, llamas or guanacos? An interesting quirk of these industries is that alpacas are kept largely for their fibre. For llamas and guanaco or guanaco-type animals, their fibre is secondary they are kept largely as companion animals, Welfare Pulse December 2009

7 for trekking, showing and as pets. This has led to discussion about whether all camelids should be covered in one code of welfare. Importantly, many aspects of their care and management are quite similar and they are often kept on the same farm. This was the same reason behind having one code of welfare for sheep and beef cattle in New Zealand. There are many llamaalpaca crosses, and there has been some genetic testing that shows nearly all llamas carry some alpaca genes... Secondly, llamas, alpacas, and to a lesser degree guanacos, are all interbred as mixed species. There are many llamaalpaca crosses, and there has been some genetic testing that shows nearly all llamas carry some alpaca genes, and vice versa. A single code will be easier to follow and will assist compliance....while guanacos can be farmed, they cannot be imported into the country under New Zealand law. Another interesting feature of the industry is that while guanacos can be farmed, they cannot be imported into the country under New Zealand law. They are also listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) so they cannot be exported without special permits. The animals in New Zealand are the result of crossbreeding of the original zoo stock and early experimental imports with other camelids. Where to from here? The writing group hopes to present the draft code of welfare to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) later this year. MAF anticipates releasing the code for public consultation in the first half of To be notified of public consultation, electronic subscription alerts are available on the animal welfare pages of the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website: For more information on camelids in New Zealand, see and Kate Littin Senior Adviser Animal Welfare MAF Biosecurity New Zealand kate.littin@maf.govt.nz Photos: Julie Insley, Brian Pinkerton, Stephen Mulholland and Penny King CODES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT approvals, notifications and terminations since issue 2 All organisations involved in the use of live animals for research, testing or teaching are required to adhere to an approved code of ethical conduct. Codes of ethical conduct approved: Nil Transfers of codes of ethical conduct approved: Nil Code holder name changes: Nil Amendments to codes of ethical conduct approved: Nil Notifications to MAF of minor amendments to codes of ethical conduct Agrivet Services Ltd Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology Notifications to MAF of arrangements to use an existing code of ethical conduct AgriHealth NZ Ltd (to use AgResearch Ltd s code) Gribbles Veterinary (Hamilton) (to use AgResearch Ltd s code) Veterinary Enterprises Group (to use AgResearch Ltd s code) Codes of ethical conduct revoked or expired or arrangements terminated or lapsed: Nil Approvals by the Director-General of MAF for the use of non-human hominids: Nil Approvals by the Minister of Agriculture of research or testing in the national interest: Nil Linda Carsons Principal Adviser, Animal Welfare Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry linda.carsons@maf.govt.nz Welfare Pulse December 2009

8 Overcoming difficult births in BELGIAN BLUE BEEF CATTLE The heavy or double muscling of Belgian Blue cattle is best known in the sculpted-like appearance of show animals, especially bulls. It is also associated with an apparent necessity to routinely deliver calves by caesarean section and the breed draws diseased, monster cows and the freaks of the farmyard responses. However, two decades of rigorous selection for traits contributing to ease of calving, and therefore enhanced animal welfare, have brought little need for caesarean births in New Zealand for this most docile of beef animals. The Belgian Blue, perhaps the most well known of the heavily muscled beef breeds, has a mutation of the myostatin gene that regulates muscle development. Originating in Belgium in the 19th century, the modern breed has been highly and successfully selected for meat production since the 1950s. The almost single-minded focus on superior meat has meant larger calves, more difficult births and routine or elective, rather than emergency, caesarean sections... The almost single-minded focus on superior meat has meant larger calves, more difficult births and routine or elective, rather than emergency, caesarean sections in as many as percent of breeding cows, perhaps exacerbated by the higher value of the calf relative to the cost of veterinary intervention and aftercare. Spurred on in part by the low economic value of cattle in New Zealand in the 1980s and the higher costs of performing caesareans, Hawkes Bay farmers Bruce Worsnop and Wendy Milne are at the vanguard of pioneering easy calving traits in Belgian Blues. The couple have developed a simple internal measure of pelvic area as a criterion for selecting breeding cows and bulls. Structural correctness in the shoulder and front legs, promoting ease of birth, is also a highly valued trait, and animals are bred for muscle growth on the loin and rump rather than the shoulder, traits vital for successful calving. This, combined with a general fitness borne of walking in extensive farm environments and allowing young females to mature rather than mate them as heifers, means there is little need for elective caesarean births. Inferior animals are grown out for slaughter rather than sold or bred. Along with farming more than 2000 breeding ewes and finishing 800 beef breed bulls each year, around 190 Belgian Blues are calved. Over the past four years, emergency caesareans have been performed on only one to five cows each season. Several of these seasons have been affected by drought with feed and magnesium shortages affecting calving. Welfare Pulse December 2009

9 About percent of cows are assisted to give birth, and cows are regularly monitored during the day and twice during the night. While all animals are cared for, those experiencing difficulties are not selected for future breeding. In addition, five to 25 calves a year may be produced following the recovery of a few donor cow eggs, which are fertilised in the laboratory and transferred into Hereford Friesian cross recipients. While some of these animals give birth naturally, most are delivered by caesarean section, principally because of the importance and value of the calves to the genetic selection programme. In contrast, it is often overlooked that Belgian Blues are only used by commercial farmers as cross breeding terminal sires, and in that capacity there are no calving problems. Belgium is an important source of genetic material, and the country s half million registered Belgian Blue cattle provide plenty of choice to find genes that suit. A simple and practical farming philosophy of observations are one of our most powerful tools, and a willingness to respond to astute meat processor signals of future constraints, such as the need for shade and shelter, have brought favourable changes in animal welfare. The success of this Belgian Blue selection and breeding programme is reflected in it beginning to also be adopted in Europe, including Belgium. Mark Fisher Kotare Bioethics kotare.bioethics@xtra.co.nz Welfare Pulse December 2009

10 NAEAC News LEADING RTT based on the use of animals Significant milestones from the wide variety of research, testing or teaching (RTT) undertaken on animals in New Zealand will be highlighted in Welfare Pulse throughout the year. Bellbirds able to outwit predators Research showing that the New Zealand bellbird is capable of changing its nesting behaviour to protect itself from predators may be good news for island birds around the world at risk of extinction. The introduction of predatory mammals such as rats, cats and stoats to oceanic islands has led to the extinction of many endemic island birds, and exotic predators continue to threaten the survival of 25 per cent of all endangered bird species worldwide. The impact of exotic predators on the native birds of oceanic islands was particularly profound as these birds evolved over millions of years, largely in the absence of such predators and appeared naïve towards newly introduced mammals. Led by Dr Melanie Massaro and Dr Jim Briskie (Biological Sciences), a study of the bellbird (an endemic New Zealand bird), has identified the ability of a previously naïve island bird to change its nesting behaviour in response to the introduction of a large suite of exotic mammalian predators by humans. Bellbirds were studied at three sites with varying levels of predation risk: a mainland site with exotic predators present (high risk); a mainland site with exotic predators experimentally removed (recent low risk); and an offshore island where exotic predators had never been introduced (permanent low risk). Dr Massaro says it was found that females spent more time on the nest per incubating bout with increased risk of predation, a strategy that minimised activity at the nest and decreased the risk of an exotic predator locating and destroying the eggs. Parental activity during the nestling period, measured as number of feeding visits per hour, also decreased with increasing nest predation risk across sites, which would further reduce the risk of an exotic predator destroying the nest. It shows that such species are not necessarily trapped by their evolutionary history as is generally considered to be the case but they, in fact, have the ability to change their behaviours in ways that appear adaptive. More importantly, this study demonstrates that such a change can occur over an ecologically relevant time-scale of years, and not centuries. Doctors Massaro and Briskie said that although their research was done on New Zealand birds, the conclusions were applicable worldwide. They believed conservation efforts towards the survival of other island birds could be more effective if advantage was taken of the ability of island birds to respond to exotic predators, especially when the elimination of such predators was not possible. Preparing doctors in early management of severe trauma The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons runs workshops each year using deeply anaesthetised sheep to teach the early management of severe trauma. These surgical skills courses seek to train doctors to be expert in managing patients in the first hour after major injury. This involves the ability to deal with immediately life-threatening injuries and using surgical procedures that most doctors are not regularly exposed to, particularly outside of an environment (the Emergency Room) where there is time to teach in a controlled way. Doctors are trained to perform life-saving techniques used in the resuscitation of severely injured people, namely venous cutdown to allow high volume fluid administration, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, emergency opening of the chest for stab wounds to the heart, chest drainage and decompression, and emergency cricothyroidotomy (surgical airway). A large volume of feedback from participants in previous courses expressed increased confidence in handling lifethreatening emergencies. Welfare Pulse December 2009

11 ANZCCART ANIMAL ETHICS COMMITTEE Member Outstanding Service Awards Photo: ANZCCART Awards were made to animal ethics committee (AEC) members at the annual conference of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching held in Queensland in July. AECs, their members and code holding institutions were invited to nominate AEC members who were providing exceptional service to an AEC. The main prize was a trip to the conference (airfares, accommodation and registration). The winner of the award was Kay McGrath, an RSPCA nominee who serves on eight South Australian AECs. In addition, 15 certificates were awarded to other AEC members in recognition Dr Dave Morgan and Dr Chris Prideaux, ANZCCART Chairman Dr Lance McLeay, University of Waikato, John Moxham and David Peart, AgResearch AEC of their outstanding service. Three of AECs (the University of Waikato, these were made to New Zealand AEC AgResearch Ruakura and Waikato members. Institute of Technology) and Dr Dave Morgan, Chairman of the Nelson Boustead, the secretary of Landcare Research NZ Ltd AEC the National Institute of Water and and member of the National Animal Atmospheric Research Ltd AEC. Ethics Advisory Committee, attended Arrangements were made to present the conference so was able to receive these certificates in New Zealand. his certificate in person. The other ANZCCART intends to present the two recipients were John Moxham, awards annually. an RNZSPCA nominee on three Photo: AgResearch Ltd Animal manipulation statistics due All organisations/individuals with a code of ethical conduct or who have an arrangement to use another organisation s animal ethics committee are reminded that their annual return of animals manipulated during 2009 is due to be submitted to MAF by 28 February Returns must be in writing and should be made on the forms provided by MAF for this purpose. A copy of the form will be sent to organisations in December and is also available on the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website: Please ensure you use the correct version of the form. Kirsty Grant, Executive Co-ordinator Animal Welfare Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry animalwelfare@maf.govt.nz Welfare Pulse December

12 NAEAC News ANZCCART NEW ZEALAND animal care technician s award Animal care technicians working in research, testing and teaching organisations are the personnel who make the use of animals possible in a wide range of experimental situations. The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Testing (ANZCCART) New Zealand has established a national award to recognise the significant contribution made by an individual New Zealand-based technician, particularly in regard to the welfare of the animals. The 2009 winner of the ANZCCART New Zealand Animal Care Technician s Award is Martin Ridgway, technician at Lincoln University. Martin was presented with his award by ANZCCART Chair, Dr Mark Fisher, at a ceremony at Lincoln University in June. Martin has worked as an animal technician at Lincoln University since the 1980s. His duties have been a mixture of farm management, animal care, conduct and supervision of research projects and undergraduate students, numerous extension activities, record keeping, method development, Martin Ridgway receiving award from Mark Fisher surgery management, and veterinary enrichment for the animals under and anaesthetic technician. He is his care. These latter attributes have experienced and competent in all caught the attention of those with aspects of research, testing and teaching special interest in animal welfare and where this involves animals especially have always led to extremely positive deer, goats, sheep and cattle. comments. It is recognised by many Where required, Martin has also that Martin has a very highly developed developed purpose-built facilities sensitivity about the needs of animals and equipment for research projects and is very dextrous and highly and innovative features for providing competent in the manual procedures excellent housing and environmental required in research projects with animals. Minor amendments to codes of ethical conduct Code holders may make minor amendments to their code of ethical conduct. Code holders are reminded that if they have made any minor amendments during 2009, they are required by law to notify MAF in writing of the changes as soon as practicable and by 31 March 2010 at the latest. The Animal Welfare Act 1999 defines a minor amendment as one that would not materially affect the purposes of the code. Linda Carsons, Principal Adviser, Animal Welfare Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry linda.carsons@maf.govt.nz 10 Welfare Pulse December 2009

13 INAUGURAL SPCA CUPCAKE DAY A resounding success On 31 August the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) held its first national Cupcake Day. The Society challenged enthusiastic cake makers across New Zealand to descend on their schools, workplaces and social groups, armed with batches of delicious cupcakes to sell to raise funds for the SPCA. People of all ages love cupcakes and so many New Zealanders get a great buzz from cake-making. This was their opportunity to mix-it in the kitchen in support of a great cause, said SPCA national Chief Executive Robyn Kippenberger. With more than cupcakes sold in Auckland alone, the response from around the country was huge. Well over $ has been raised nationally. Prizes were awarded for the most creative cupcake, the most extreme place to eat a cupcake and the most money raised. A number of celebrities and sports people joined in the fun, with most notably All Black Dan Carter selling cupcakes from a stall outside his clothing store, GAS, in Auckland. Visitors were not only able to purchase cupcakes but also had the opportunity to be photographed with Dan Carter. I love animals, I love the SPCA and I m really excited to be part of Cupcake Day, said Dan. Robyn Kippenberger noted that the role of the SPCA has never been more important, given the 40 percent rise in animal abuse cases reported during the first four months of this year. We need all the support we can get, if we re to bring those responsible to justice and help educate our young people towards a more caring and compassionate approach to animals, she said. MAF also supported the SPCA by promoting the sale of cupcakes at Pastoral House, Wellington as the two organisations have a close working relationship in respect to enforcing the Animal Welfare Act Sales and donations at the end of the day totalled $ The SPCA warned that however much humans may enjoy cupcakes they should not feed them to animals unless especially made for them. The Cupcake Day website included a recipe for dog cupcakes so that pooches didn t feel left out! Peter Mason National President RNZSPCA president@rnzspca.org.nz NAEAC Occasional Papers Series The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) has an objective of disseminating articles that could be of relevance to those with an interest in research, testing and teaching, particularly animal ethics committee members. On occasion these could be papers which have appeared in academic journals or conference proceedings but which are likely to be of interest to a wider audience. Thus, NAEAC has started publishing a series of occasional papers. The first of these, Underreporting of the three Rs deployment that occurs during the planning of protocols that precedes their submission to animal ethics committees, was published in late 2008 and was reprinted with permission from the organisers of the 6th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences. The second appeared in April 2009 and is entitled Regulation of animal use in research, testing and teaching in New Zealand the black, the white and the grey. This updates an article which appeared some years ago in Surveillance. Two further issues are currently in press. One of these compares the regulation of animal testing in the European Union and New Zealand and the other deals with monitoring of animal use by a research institution. The occasional papers are available from the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website: Welfare Pulse December

14 Domestic Understanding PIG WELFARE Pig farming is a specialist skill, and the challenges to successfully farm pigs including providing for their overall welfare are different from those for other species. There are about 1.4 million households in New Zealand and around 230 commercial pig farms, that is, one farm per 6000 households. The chances of people having visited a farm or understanding pig production is small. The challenge for NZPork is to give stakeholders adequate understanding of the methods, challenges, drivers and people involved in pork production and in doing so to deal with their concerns. Welfare has been elevating in consumer minds and reached a crescendo earlier this year. Ironically this has not been reflected in purchasing behaviour illustrating the well known fact that what people say and what they do is often not well matched. The consumer s key question is this. Is the NZ pork industry committed to welfare? The answer is a resounding yes. This can be illustrated with a track record of tangible actions. A natural place to start is 2005 when the current Pigs Code of Welfare was issued. In 2005 the industry embarked on a 10-year plan of continuous improvement in pig care. The 10-year programme indicates a track record of implementing change: Post the code release in 2005 a strong producer communication programme was launched including a practical check list allowing self audit against the code. Ten percent of farm employees are involved in industry training at any one time. A core part of training is ProHand an internationally recognised module that helps farm workers to understand pig psychology, handling and welfare. This results in a high level of pig care competency. The industry committed to phasing down sow stall use. The target set by NAWAC was for a maximum of four weeks at the start of pregnancy by By June % of industry production has already reached this target. The industry has implemented a welfare issue reporting and support scheme. An MOU with MAF underlines industry s commitment to deal with issues alongside MAF s involvement where required. There is also openness to new ideas: In 2008 the industry commissioned an independent review of sow housing options. The review indicated that NZ housing and production systems are equivalent to current world best practice from a welfare perspective. NZPork with MAF Sustainable Farming Fund has committed significant funding and resources to a project to assess the application of new sow management methods (not using stalls) within a NZ context. This research with SPCA input is scheduled for early NZ Pork The 10 year welfare action plan progress so far About 10 percent of producers and the industry advisers annually travel overseas to investigate housing, management and welfare practices and quickly adopt or adapt best practice to NZ conditions. In addition to working with NAWAC to review the current pig code, NZPork has launched two initiatives to be implemented by the end of the year to provide consumers with greater clarity and confidence: Conducting consumer research to identify concerns and gain advice on how these can be best addressed one initiative is the development of a pigfarming website supported by welfare assured labelling. A compulsory independent annual pig care audit on every commercial farm. The Massey University audit process is a world first, developed with MAF and NZPork funding. The pork industry is committed to ongoing action and communication to ensure that pig welfare is well provided for, and that stakeholders have confidence in New Zealand production systems. Sam McIvor, Chief Executive New Zealand Pork Industry Board sam.mcivor@pork.co.nz 12 Welfare Pulse December 2009

15 ANIMAL EDUCATION in schools The Animals in Schools Education Trust (AISET) was established by the New Zealand Veterinary Association in 1993 to foster the provision of educational resources about animals. The AISET mission is to promote a concern for animal welfare in school children, and to give a balanced view of people s relationships with animals. AISET trustees include individuals and organisations reflecting the animal-related and educational role of the organisation, and include representatives from the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC), New Zealand Cat Fancy, Wellington Zoo, Victoria University College of Education, Federated Farmers and the Royal Society of New Zealand. To date, AISET, with the help of sponsors, has facilitated the publication of three books: Our Pet Dog and its Welfare, Rebecca s Cats and how she cares for them and Cold Snap Lambs; and a video and workbook Brandy the Budgerigar. These have been widely distributed to New Zealand schools and are also available on the AISET website ( Cold Snap Lambs is the most recent of the AISET projects and has been well received by schools. It is aimed at nine to 12-yearold children, and explains the reasons for early lambing and good animal husbandry practices to ensure the wellbeing of lambs in early spring cold snaps. The book was published partly in response to AISET identifying, through a survey of relevant teaching resources, the need for a primary school student resource about the use of animals in farming. Children are our future decision makers, yet the majority have little or no knowledge about farmed animals or the farming sector, which is so important to the New Zealand economy. AISET would like to continue this work and develop a similar educational resource about dairy calves to explain the reasons for common practices on dairy farms and good animal husbandry practices by the farmers to ensure the wellbeing of their cows. AISET s principal activity is to endorse balanced material on animals in all roles in society, including as pets, working animals, in the farming sector, and in research, teaching and testing. AISET believes this information must promote the care and welfare of animals in all of these roles. Board members include teachers, veterinarians, scientists, animal owners and interest group members, whose collective expertise contributes to a rigorous educational resource endorsement plan. The Trust is interested in facilitating the production of educational material for use by teachers but will endorse any material that meets its criteria. Endorsement adds value and credibility to the material, and AISET believes there is a valid place for it to be a monitor of new teaching resources relating to animal welfare. Endorsed publications include: Safe Fun with Animals video and parent/teacher notes; NZVA kit for veterinarians to use visiting schools; Poultry Biology a course book for teachers; The Chook Book; Pets or Pests? one of the Alpha series of leaflets published by the Royal Society of New Zealand; Talking about dogs in the community a teaching kit used by animal control officers; Friends of the Family a book by Virginia Williams; Caring for Animals a resource giving educators legal, ethical and practical information about the use of small animals in early childhood education centres and schools; and Dog Dos and Don ts an Animal Management School education programme for teachers, children and parents. AISET further promotes the welfare of animals by having displays at meetings and conferences, including NZVA conferences, science teacher conferences, commercial expos and companion animal shows. AISET believes that teaching young people about the importance of animal welfare will have a positive effect on their care for animals and one another. Jan Quay Chair, AISET jan@agcarm.co.nz cold snap lambs Welfare Pulse December

16 Domestic Proactive BOBBY CALF PROGRAMME In late 2007, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) was asked to facilitate discussion between representatives of the industries involved with bobby calves. The purpose was to enable close co-operation and sharing of information, with a desire from all involved to work together for the overall good of the industry and with the aim of optimising the welfare of bobby calves. This Bobby Calf Forum has since met on several occasions to review animal welfare code requirements for the transport of bobby calves, develop and implement a co-ordinated programme of education and awareness for all those involved in the industry, as well as a programme of monitoring compliance by NZFSA veterinarians at processing plants. The monitoring programme includes gathering data to evaluate the level of compliance and identifying areas for improvement. For the 2009 bobby calf season, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Enforcement Directorate (MAFED) has included an additional aspect to the industry/nzfsa programme. The initiative focuses on monitoring, surveillance and assessment of calf care, selection and transport. As well as complementing NZFSA and industry initiatives in the bobby calf area, the work reflects MAF s determination to secure proactive opportunities that improve voluntary compliance in the animal welfare arena. The New Zealand Road Transport Forum, Federated Farmers, Meat Industry Association and dairy industry have been consulted and provided vitally important, and much appreciated, commitment and direct assistance with the initiative. Following last year s collaborative exercise with the NZFSA that assessed and scoped bobby calf issues at processing plants, this year s initiative is designed to assess the state and level of compliance within the sector and is targeted specifically at on-farm and transport pressure points. In simple terms, it involves a MAF presence at the farm gate when bobby calves are collected. MAF animal welfare investigators and selected NZFSA veterinarians travel with transport operators on their daily collection rounds and assess on-farm calf selection and welfare, including pen and truck assessments, and calf handling in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for Bobby Calves. Industry bodies have continued their education and awareness programmes to ensure all parties are aware of their responsibilities for animal welfare. NZFSA veterinarians at processing plants continue to monitor animal welfare outcomes of calves presented at processing plants and report back on the performance of the programme. 14 Welfare Pulse December 2009

17 This comprehensive approach will provide objective and robust data on the actual situation on-farm and during transport, and complement the data being gathered at processing plants by NZFSA. Other objectives include increasing awareness of the obligations farmers and transport operators have under the Animal Welfare Act and codes, providing educational support that improves levels of compliance, and providing the opportunity for simultaneous data capture and analysis by NZFSA veterinarians assessing bobby calves at processing plants. Any detections of serious noncompliance are dealt with under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act This initiative is another step in the development of a successful model for proactive collaboration, with regulatory agencies and the relevant industry bodies working together, sharing information and resources to improve compliance. Following analysis of the results, it is anticipated that the work will continue to be built on for the 2010 season. Alan Wilson Team Manager, Animal Welfare Investigations Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry alan.wilson@maf.govt.nz Richard Wild Specialist New Zealand Food Safety Authority Verification Agency richard.wild@nzfsa.govt.nz UNITEC animal welfare programme Unitec s revised Certificate in Animal Welfare Investigations programme has been running successfully for two years following an extensive period of consultation and review. The programme, run by Unitec s Department of Natural Sciences and based at the Mt Albert campus in Auckland, covers animal welfare law, investigations, prosecutions, communications and animal health and husbandry. The course is a unique balance of theory and practice, with many highly respected professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) contributing to the teaching. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds, including former police officers and vet nurses, along with experienced animal welfare investigators seeking a refresher course. Graduates are of a high calibre. Several have gone on to become excellent animal welfare investigators for MAF, SPCA and Animal Welfare Institute of New Zealand AWINZ), while others have enjoyed the educational experience so much that they have progressed on to Unitec s Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Management and Welfare) programme. Unitec is grateful to MAF for sponsoring the two annual Top Student awards, which are based on practical skills and academic merit. The inaugural recipients (in 2008) were Sacha Keltie and Barbara Goodue, both of whom are now working for the Auckland SPCA. Barbara was also the recipient of the Unitec Student Excellence award based on academic merit. Places on the 2010 programme are filling up fast, with prospective students looking forward to the three intensive block courses that will be held February, June and October. Arnja Dale Programme Director UNITEC adale2@unitec.ac.nz Welfare Pulse December

18 Domestic A forum for COMPANION ANIMALS A simple need to communicate created an active animal welfare advocacy organisation, writes Bob Kerridge, New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC) Chair and Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Auckland Executive Director. One of my early enlightenments when I entered the world of animal welfare many years ago was the realisation that there existed a vast array of knowledgeable and highly skilled individuals and organisations dealing with animals but sadly little expertise when it came to communicating with each other. I soon learned that although there was a large diversity amongst them when it came to operational and philosophical behaviours, there was a commonality that was begging to be used collectively to benefit the welfare of animals to which their vocation had drawn them. Here indeed was a communal force waiting to be harnessed, if only there was some mechanism to bring them together. And so began a series of casual but useful workshop meetings involving animal agencies in Auckland. Companion animals were the targeted subjects because the Auckland SPCA, which hosted the gatherings, dealt almost exclusively in that area. Encouraged by the success of those small forums, it soon became clear that a more formal and committed group could achieve a good deal more, and accordingly the first Companion Animal Workshop was launched in Staged in the then- Regent Hotel (now the Stamford), in the heart of Auckland City, invitations were extended to the veterinary profession, local authorities, welfare organisations, breed groups, government agencies, animal establishments and individuals to attend this open forum for an exchange of views and ideas. Although there was some resistance at first to communicate freely with each other, those barriers were soon removed in subsequent years when further annual workshops were arranged. By 1996 if became clear that the ideas generated at these gatherings needed to be used and acted upon through a more formal structure, and the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC) was born that year. The Council s vision was clear: To be a forum for the facilitation of a harmonious relationship between companion animals, people and the environment. Its mandate included: to continue the annual workshops (or conferences as they are now known); promote the human/ animal bond and interaction between animals and the community; encourage responsible pet ownership and provide humane education; give legislative support; interact with territorial authorities, both in welfare and control; and encourage and support intelligent research. Since its formation, the NZCAC has accomplished many of these ideals. The 20th NZCAC conference was recently held in Auckland, the home of the Council s birth. The keynote speaker was internationally-acclaimed author and animal advocate Marc Bekoff, reflecting the standards now being achieved at these now highly regarded conferences. This annual event culminates with the presentation of the coveted Assisi medals, another NZCAC initiative, which are presented to those, both local and international, who have contributed significantly to the welfare of animals. In the area of responsible pet ownership and the provision of legislative support needed to achieve that, the NZCAC has become heavily involved in writing codes of welfare. The first published was the Code for Companion Cats, and the second, for dogs, is due for release shortly. The Council is also mid-way through a Code for the Temporary Housing of Companion Animals and is soon to start work on a Code for Service Animals. Bob Kerridge Executive Director SPCA Auckland More recently, the NZCAC together with the New Zealand Veterinary Association, New Zealand Kennel Club, New Zealand Cat Fancy, Companion Animal Society and the SPCA developed the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) to act as an efficient mechanism to record and handle microchip registrations for all species of companion animals. To date, more than animals are registered with the NZCAR, with more than 70 percent of New Zealand s veterinary practices using the register, along with almost half of the SPCA network and some territorial authorities. 16 Welfare Pulse December 2009

19 There are an equal number of cats and dogs on the register, clear evidence that the voluntary micro-chipping of cats is an accepted practice. In addition to the register, the NZCAC has established the New Zealand Companion Animal Trust (NZCAT), into which proceeds from the register are lodged for eventual distribution to worthy animal welfare causes throughout the country. So, it is that from those early workshop meetings, designed to encourage interaction and communication between a wide range of animal groups, that a highly respected and effective cooperative has been established to benefit companion animals. The Council already has a long list of achievements behind it, and it is keenly aware that there are many new goals to be reached in the future. For more information see: Bob Kerridge Executive Director The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Auckland Inc bob.kerridge@spca.org.nz Safeguarding our Animals Safeguarding our Reputation Everyone taking responsibility for the welfare of animals is the vision behind a major new initiative being led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). The aim of the initiative is to significantly improve compliance with animal welfare requirements over the next five years, in effect taking animal welfare in New Zealand to the next level. Although the focus will initially be on the farming sector, companion animals are also covered in the scope of the plan. As a result, MAF has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including the veterinary profession, animal welfare organisations and industry groups to gather feedback on the draft compliance plan. Co-operation and co-ordination are key features of the plan, as is a focus on achieving voluntary compliance through education and awareness, rather than simply increasing enforcement efforts. The preferred approach is to: make use of existing initiatives wherever possible; use those people and organisations best placed to provide support; reduce duplication of time and effort at every opportunity. Traditional compliance activities will be ongoing, but will most likely shift towards tackling serious and repeat offending as the project progresses and less serious offending diminishes. The compliance plan itself is built around three fundamental expectations. These are: Integration all participants in the plan clearly understand their various roles and responsibilities with regard to improving animal welfare and work towards common goals wherever possible. Compliance encouragement of voluntary compliance by means of education and raising awareness, as well as appropriate intervention in cases where voluntary compliance is not forthcoming. Tools & Resources ensuring that all participants have at their disposal the right equipment to enable them to fulfil their roles in the plan. This does not simply mean providing an endless stream of glossy brochures to farmers, but thinking outside the square and finding other ways to positively engage with the community at hand. It may also mean looking at the law governing animal welfare in New Zealand and identifying new ways to tackle animal welfare offending. Although the compliance plan is still in its infancy, it is hoped that over time, more and more people will engage with it and support its objectives. After all, everybody in New Zealand has a part to play in achieving the animal welfare outcomes we want and deserve as a society. And that means not just standing on the sidelines as a critic, but being receptive to new ideas, working around perceived constraints and engaging in the animal welfare debate with an open mind. We will know if we have been successful if, in five years time, everyone is indeed taking responsibility for the welfare of animals. Rob Gregory Senior Policy Analyst (Animal Welfare) MAF Biosecurity New Zealand rob.gregory@maf.govt.nz Welfare Pulse December

20 Domestic Animal Welfare and PEST MANAGEMENT RESEARCH Aerial drop of poisoned bait New Zealand has more animal pests (35 introduced mammal species) than most other countries in the world, and their management is therefore a prominent activity to protect native biodiversity and agricultural production. Pest animal management relies heavily on the use of lethal control tools, such as poisons and traps, and it is well recognised that these tools have a significant welfare cost. While illtreatment of animals in the wild is in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 1999, the legislation does not make it unlawful to carry out animal pest control, or to hunt or fish for animals in the wild. The Act also provides restrictions on the types of traps and control devices and their uses, and for animals caught alive during pest control to be killed by an acceptable method if they are not to be released. Selection of pest control methods has traditionally been based on cost-efficacy, target specificity, human operator safety, and risk of environmental contamination, but increasingly animal welfare must also be considered....the development and selection of feasible control programmes and techniques that avoid or minimise pain and suffering to target and nontarget animals. In terms of social acceptability, the perceived humaneness of pest management is a significant factor that must be taken into account; for example, in one survey a majority (88 percent) of the New Zealand public felt that lethal pest control methods should meet some minimum standard of humaneness. The goal of vertebrate pest control from a welfare perspective has been suggested as the development and selection of feasible control programmes and techniques that avoid or minimise pain and suffering to target and non-target animals. New Zealand s management of vertebrate pests is characterised by large-scale lethal control, particularly of possums, rabbits, rats, and stoats. Possum control for bovine Tb management, for example, extended over more than four million hectares in 2007/08, and many millions of animals are killed annually. Research on animal welfare in relation to the management of such pests focuses on ways of mitigating the welfare costs of management, not only through the development of alternatives to lethal control and approaches to minimising pain and suffering, but also by providing tools for management agencies to help them better achieve pest management outcomes and benefits. Research also takes account of stakeholder and public opinion about what welfare costs may be acceptable for control methods, and what welfare impacts (costs) on pest animals are justified to obtain the desired benefits of pest control. Much of the research described below relates to one particular vertebrate pesticide, sodium fluoroacetate (1080), which is employed extensively in New Zealand for possum and rodent control, but is little used elsewhere in the world. The debate about ongoing use of 1080 encompasses perceptions of a wide range of issues. Pest animal welfare is just one component among other concerns including broadcast aerial application of 1080 baits, non-target risks to indigenous and game species, environmental contamination, job creation, community willingness to pay for alternatives, consultation and involvement in decision making, and risks to Māori values. The research is focused on minimising Bait station 18 Welfare Pulse December 2009

21 the total welfare cost to pests, and this total cost can be accounted for by the following equation: Total WC = (WC Tkilled x N) + (WC TSublethal x N) + (WC NTkilled x N) + (WC T=NTSublethal x N) Where WC = welfare cost; WC Tkilled and WC NTkilled = WC of the target and non-target animals killed. This accounts for how humane a device is. WC TSublethal and WC NTSublethal = WC of the target and non-target animals that receive a sublethal dose of poison or escape from a trap. N = the number of animals effected. Each component of the welfare cost equation is being addressed by the current programme of research underway at Landcare Research, in close collaboration with the main pest control agencies, Animal Health Board, Department of Conservation and the regional councils. The research is based around the Three Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement), a concept borrowed from animal welfare science. To REDUCE dependence on existing control tools, our recent projects have developed a method to identify habitats within a landscape with high or low risk of pest impacts, so that the area over which pests are treated can be minimised; and identified how critical factors such as bait sowing rate and bait distribution can be manipulated jointly to use the least amount of poison bait that ensures all animals have access to a lethal dose to achieve the desired pest reductions. Reducing toxin use will help minimise risk to non-target species, while avoiding sub-lethal poisoning will help reduce welfare impacts. We have assessed various toxins and traps used in New Zealand to provide management agencies and pest controllers with information about their relative humaneness to allow reasoned choice of control methods. To REFINE existing methods, our research has improved targeted control through understanding of the effects of pre-feeding on the foraging behaviour of possums and rats and how long the behavioural changes last; demonstrated the efficacy of a deer repellent in minimising by-kill of deer during possum control; and identified strategies that can minimise the number of animals killed to achieve a defined control programme outcome. We have also investigated the use of analgesics or oral anaesthetics as bait additives to reduce symptoms of poisoning. Our experiences with possums show, however, that veterinary and human drugs do not always work effectively in wild animals, especially possums. REPLACEMENT of existing methods is being addressed through a range of research projects focused on fertility control and development of speciesselective toxins. Fertility control of possums is regarded generally as a more humane and publicly acceptable alternative to current lethal control tools. At the National Research Centre for Possum Biocontrol, in which Landcare Research is a major partner, trials with injectable vaccines have demonstrated the feasibility of possumselective fertility control, and the current emphasis is on development of an aerosol or bait delivered formulation. Other research at the Centre is developing a possum-selective toxin based on unique features of marsupial physiology, while different approaches are being taken by Landcare Research scientists to develop selective toxins for rodents and stoats. This integrated approach has resulted in changes to operational best practice that delivers not only improved costeffectiveness but also reduced welfare costs. Aerial control operations against possum and rodents are now starting to use up to 80% less toxic bait, and ground control operations are using fewer traps or toxic baits because surviving pests are located from detection surveys before follow-up control is applied. We now aim to refine aerial application for rabbit control and use the new knowledge about pre-feeding effects on foraging behaviour to provide GPS-assisted precision-based applications of baits. Further out, when fertility and speciesselective control agents become available they will be integrated into the tool-box as substitutes for some of the current suite of broad spectrum toxins. Together these approaches will help lower the overall welfare costs of animal pest management in New Zealand. Landcare Research Phil Cowan Science Leader, Pest Control Technologies cowanp@landcareresearch.co.nz Bruce Warburton Team Manager warburtonb@landcareresearch.co.nz Penny Fisher Research Leader, Pest Control Technologies fisherp@landcareresearch.co.nz Welfare Pulse December

22 Domestic Massey shares COMPUTER-AIDED LEARNING Computer-aided learning (CAL) packages for teaching veterinary anatomy at Massey University have been developed since 1988 in an active programme led initially by Associate Professor Alex Davies. Early benefits were a marked reduction in the number of animals used in laboratory classes and greatly enhanced learning from those that were still used. Moreover, Dr Davies recruited second-year veterinary and other students to work on new packages during their vacations, and this both sped development and, perhaps more importantly, generated enthusiasm for the principle of the Three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) among the students, which they carried forward into the rest of their studies. Over a 15-year period about 75 packages were prepared, some of which were profiled at Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) conferences and World Congresses on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences. This total contribution to Three Rs applications in teaching deservedly earned Dr Davies the 2003 National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Three Rs Award. Neil Ward, Massey University s laboratory manager for physiology and anatomy for the past 20 years, was an active participant in these activities throughout, providing computer know-how and innovative ideas during package development. His strong commitment to application of the Three Rs also extended to physiology laboratory classes and led to the annual use of live animals decreasing from 800 about 30 years ago to 16 today. This rightly earned him the inaugural The Three Rs help animal-based scientists minimise the negative impacts of research, testing and teaching on animals as follows: replacement of animals with non-sentient animal or non-animal alternatives; reduction in the number of sentient animals used to the minimum necessary to achieve the scientific objective; refinement of the procedures applied to decrease to the minimum practicable extent the negative impacts they have on the animals. Massey University laboratory manager for physiology and anatomy Neil Ward (left) and Associate Professor Alex Davies in front of a poster summarising their CAL packages. ANZCCART New Zealand Animal Care Technicians Award in Mr Ward is currently leading an initiative that will make these packages more readily available, both within the university and internationally. The intention is to convert all the existing anatomy CAL packages to a new format so they can be delivered anywhere, anytime, to any browser, initially to Massey students. This will enable students to use the programs on any computer system on the Massey network or from home if they have sufficient internet broadband capacity. Historically, these programs have been shared with other veterinary schools, and five in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have gifted CAL packages to Massey in return. Once fully operational, the internal server/web-based system could deliver these programs to any user anywhere in the world. A small service fee will be needed to cover overheads and the cost of updates and future developments. 20 Welfare Pulse December 2009

23 At present, about 45 packages are web deliverable and another 50 or so will be converted or upgraded to the required format. Demonstration examples of the packages, but not the final format of the web site, are available at: ac.nz/~arowatt/cal/index.html. This initiative is being vigorously pursued and notification will be made in Welfare Pulse when the site goes active. To date, several universities offering veterinary science, veterinary nursing, and agricultural and biological science qualifications have expressed interest in this development. Clearly, as the initiative gains momentum, there will be huge potential to extend international understanding of the Three Rs principle and to provide easy access to efficacious CAL packages that give practical effect to it. David J Mellor Co-Director, Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre College of Sciences Massey University d.j.mellor@massey.ac.nz The search for pain indicators IN CATS, HORSES AND RABBITS The recognition, evaluation and alleviation of animal pain associated with injury or disease is a fundamental objective of veterinary medicine. Inadequate provision of analgesia may not only result in suffering, prolonged recovery and increased hospitalisation times, but increased morbidity and mortality. However, a number of issues confound animal pain research, for example: Reliable indicators of pain may be species specific (for example, a dog may yelp while a rabbit makes no noise at all). Individuals of the same species will differ in their sensitivity to pain. Pain may vary in intensity, independent of duration. Chronic pain (such as arthritis) requires on-going treatment whereas acute pain (for example, surgery) requires analgesia only during the process of healing and recovery. For some species, little is know about pain responses or indicators. However, Unitec s Professor Natalie Waran and her co-workers have objectively identified possible behavioural indicators of pain in horses and, more recently, cats. Following on from these studies, the Unitec team, co-ordinated by Dr Warran s colleague Mark Farnworth, in collaboration with the University of Auckland, undertook to identify behavioural responses to pain in laboratory rabbits after abdominal surgery. Rabbits are one of the top six animals used in laboratory research worldwide, yet relatively little is known about their responses to pain. Surgery is likely to be the most manageable cause of pain, so understanding post-surgical behavioural indicators of pain is important. Behavioural changes, unlike physiological changes, are evident to everyone. If an observer is aware of what to look for, he or she can also identify the presence or absence of pain and provide or vary pharmaceutical relief accordingly. Currently, most postoperative analgesic protocols are based Welfare Pulse December

24 Domestic on best-practice as it applies to rodents, and not rabbits, raising questions about species applicability. The results of the first study showed changes in post-operative behaviour associated with the six-hour period following surgery. These changes included reductions in durations of eating and drinking, and events such as rearing on hind-legs, stretching and yawning. Other behaviours that were only evident post-surgically, were classified as abnormal behaviours because they were rarely expressed in animals that have not undergone surgery. Such pain indicators may be the most important, as presence of behaviours is easier to quantify than absence. They included an abnormal posture known as tight-huddle and an abnormal gait where the front legs were extended but the hind legs shuffled forwards, rather than the standard hop. These behaviours persisted beyond the observation period. Results suggest that a number of pain indicators could be used to assess the impact of a potentially painful procedure on rabbits, despite the fact that peri-operative analgesia (pain relief that is administered to cover the animal during and shortly after the surgery) was provided to all animals within this study. This is similar to the findings from the previously published studies on both horses and cats. In an additional study, carried out with the help of University of Edinburgh postgraduate student Katharine Schweizer, further information regarding the effects of altering analgesic provision for rabbits (providing peri and post-operative rather than the usual practice of just peri-operative analgesia) was gained. It is hoped that these studies will help develop a better understanding of pain and its assessment in a wide range of species. Only through the improvement of pain recognition can optimal pain management, and hence optimal welfare, be achieved. The development of a valid, sensitive and reliable technique for assessing pain will be of use in evaluating analgesic efficacy, and hence lead to further improvements in animal welfare. As prey animals, horses may show only subtle behavioural responses to painful stimuli. Natalie Waran Professor of Animal Welfare nwaran@unitec.ac.nz Mark Farnworth Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare mfarnworth@unitec.ac.nz Animal Welfare Team, Department of Natural Sciences Unitec Institute of Technology Natalie Waran Professor of Animal Welfare Unitec Institute of Technology 22 Welfare Pulse December 2009

25 Kiwis LOVE EGGS By international standards Kiwis love eggs. Each of us munches our way through the equivalent of 225 a year more than in Australia, less than the United States and up from 200 a year a decade ago. Just 42 percent of eggs are sold through supermarkets, with the rest going to the food service and processing industries. The growth in egg consumption is driven by factors such as price, shelf-life, convenience, ease of use and, of course, nutritional value. Just under 90 percent of all eggs are cage-laid. There is a slow trend towards free-range and, to a lesser extent, barnlaid, but the largest proportion of the increase in consumption is cage-laid eggs despite the extensive advocacy campaign against cage-laid eggs. Rightly or wrongly, the consumer generally buys on price rather than principle. Even the advent of pack labelling of production systems, which was introduced in a majority of supermarkets in , had no discernable effect on consumption trends. To find an explanation one only has to look at price. Caged-egg prices have flat-lined over many years, whereas there have been gradual increases in free-range and barn-laid products. Price also explains the overall rise in consumption. With the likes of dairy product prices soaring, eggs sit ahead of most comparable protein sources in terms of value for money. In short, eggs are a cheap and nutritious food, sought out by dollar-conscious consumers. While most consumers purchase eggs, the profile of heavy users tends to be younger and at the lower income end of the scale. They tend also to buy cage-laid eggs. It would be easy to assume that there are cage-egg users and free-range users, and never the twain shall meet. This is not so. While free-range represents less than 10 percent of eggs sold, they are bought by more than 30 percent of consumers. Many consumers buy both, using the premium-priced free-range egg for quite specific uses such as a breakfast egg. This is not the behaviour of an uninformed or indiscriminate consumer, as is sometimes portrayed in public discussion. Consumer behaviour around eggs gives every indication of being deliberate and thought out. How do we explain the apparent inconsistency of public attitudes to eggs? On the one hand, New Zealanders say in public surveys they disapprove of cage production systems, yet on the other, they are knowingly eating caged eggs like there is no tomorrow. The explanation: our sensibilities. We do not like to be seen to be different and opinions are free; the family grocery shop is not. Does this all add up to a compelling argument for caged eggs? Not at all. What it says is that if there is to be an alternative to cages for welfare reasons, then it must be an alternative that preserves the relative price of eggs. It would be a big call to trade welfare considerations against the requirements for family nutrition within a tight budget, particularly with the current squeeze on incomes. It was with this in mind that the industry, two years ago, initiated a trial of enriched colonies, known also as furnished cages. Because the hens are in a controlled environment, this system has many of the benefits of cages while allowing the hens more freedom to move around. The industry is cautiously optimistic with the results after completing one laying cycle in the trial, but this will be for another discussion on another occasion. Michael Guthrie Chairman Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand Welfare Pulse December

26 International WORKING HORSES human behaviour change The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is working with communities in developing countries to change behaviour towards animals, writes the Society s Michelle Clark. There are more than 90 million working horses in the world. Unfortunately, a huge number of these suffer from mistreatment or lack of good husbandry practices. In many countries people rely on horses to survive, hence improvements to animal welfare standards are also beneficial to human welfare. The root cause of most animal welfare problems is human behaviour. Traditional equine outreach programmes have provided veterinary or farriery services, or have been aimed at increasing awareness of issues that contribute to poor welfare. We learnt that animals can suffer. Even though we have been working with horses for a very long time there are things we don t know. Community representative in Nicaragua However, provision of veterinary care can be costly, lead to a culture of dependency, fail to reach all members of a community and have little or no preventative value. Programmes that increase awareness can help to highlight an issue but this alone does not lead to people changing their behaviour. To create programmes that will change behaviour, it is necessary to understand the day-to-day reality of a community s circumstances and how this impacts on welfare standards. WSPA, working with Bristol University s Dr Rebecca Whay, has developed a programme of improved husbandry and care that aims to change communities behaviour towards equine welfare in an effort to prevent problems, rather than treating problems once they have arisen. The programme uses participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methodology, and some social marketing techniques that empower communities and provide them with sustainable tools. This enables communities to respond to future changes in their situations without reliance on outsiders to provide assistance. The programme consists of a series of visual exercises that enable animal owners to examine their needs and problems. This information is then used by the community to identify and test potential solutions to issues. It is crucial that communities are not told what to do by outsiders, but instead arrive at solutions themselves. The programme is initiated through two workshops run by WSPA-trained member society staff. The community nominates a representative to attend the workshops, who then repeats the exercises once they return to the community. The first workshop introduces the PRA methodology and starts to explore the community s animal and human situation. For example, participants draw pictures to show what activities their equines are involved in on a typical day and who in the family has a role to play. The second workshop explores more deeply the causes of problems, and particularly encourages discussion on the opportunities and challenges that might arise from collective action. WSPA has piloted projects in Nicaragua, Cambodia, Uruguay, Thailand and, 24 Welfare Pulse December 2009

27 more recently, Palestine. These projects are in the early stages but communities have already reported positive changes. I learnt that prevention is better than treatment. Community representative in Cambodia. For example, in Cambodia one hazard to equine welfare was identified as poor road conditions. Since the workshop, people have taken responsibility for filling potholes outside their homes and communities have worked together to fill holes along the most popular routes. WSPA and its member societies have also learnt from these workshops that the issues they highlight as crucial to improving standards can be different from those that owners feel are important. If these differences are not aligned, interventions may fail because they are not important to the communities concerned. The effectiveness of these programmes will be monitored, and WSPA will incorporate the best techniques into other companion and working animal projects around the world working with communities to change behaviour towards animals step-by-step. Michelle Clark Member Societies Development Manager World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) michelleclark@wspa-international.org Michelle Clark Member Societies Development Manager, WSPA NEW LEGISLATION to improve animal welfare at slaughter New European Union (EU) legislation on the protection of animals at the time of killing was adopted in June 2009 and will apply from 1 January This revision of the current legislation was initiated for several reasons. Firstly, scientific and technical knowledge on animal welfare, stunning and slaughtering techniques has progressed since the previous legislation came into force in The new regulation brings together all these changes and foresees that staff handling animals in slaughterhouses must be trained regularly and possess certificates of competence regarding the welfare implications of their tasks. Secondly, scientific opinions from the European Food Safety Authority and the adoption of the Community Action Plan on Animal Welfare introduced new concepts for the welfare of animals in slaughterhouses and during killing. As a result, a number of technical changes concern the construction, layout and equipment used at slaughterhouses. An animal welfare officer will be in charge of co-ordinating and ensuring the implementation of these welfare measures. Slaughterhouses in third countries exporting meat to the EU will be required to comply with similar standards to those within the new regulation. It is foreseen that standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) will be taken into account when assessing equivalency. The new legislation envisages greater flexibility on the means but is stricter on the method, integrating animal welfare considerations into the design of slaughterhouses and making business operators more responsible for animal welfare. More information is available at ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/ slaughter/ce_proposal_animal_time_ killing_en.htm Denis Simonin Animal Welfare Unit, Directorate-General Health and Consumers European Commission Denis.simonin@ec.europa.eu Welfare Pulse December

28 International The gap between science and ANIMAL WELFARE STANDARDS The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) works in more than 40 countries worldwide to safeguard wildlife and companion animals, promoting practical solutions to animal welfare and conservation challenges that benefit both animals and people, writes the Fund s Cindy Milburn. Forty years after IFAW s founding, the growing field of animal welfare science that emerged in the 1980s is increasingly providing decision makers with measurable standards on which to base policy and legislation. Not that animal welfare legislation is a recent concept: King Ashoka, the Emperor of India, is credited with the first law, decreed in the third century BC, to protect animals against cruelty, as well as the first list of protected species. Meaningful animal welfare measures are noticeable by their absence from conventions, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, that pre-date much of the research in animal welfare science, and also, crucially, the more recent World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. Wildlife welfare issues bring unique challenges. For instance, elephants one of IFAW s priority species are highly social and there are many ramifications when humans interfere with population dynamics. Past efforts have addressed perceived over-populations of elephants in some parts of Africa by culling. However, this may ignore the root problem, for example, that in some regions population density was increased because of artificial water supplies, while in others man-made boundaries such as fencing concentrated 26 Welfare Pulse December 2009 populations in small areas. Scientific studies also now show that culling of the populations, or poaching elsewhere to supply the ivory trade, has had longterm impacts far beyond the individual animals killed, including the emergence of symptoms in the animals left behind that were analogous to post-traumatic distress syndrome in human beings. Thus, research is making it increasingly clear that the well-being of both individual and populations of elephants is best served through non-lethal management practices and by addressing the very serious issue of poaching to supply the ivory trade. Key international conventions and agreements should now reflect these scientific findings. In the meantime, IFAW continues to work through partnerships with governments, academic and commercial institutions and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). For example: At the request of the Malawi Government, IFAW recently prevented a mass cull by moving 83 elephants from a situation of conflict with local villagers. In response to IFAW investigations and reports, ebay and Taobao, its Chinese equivalent, have prohibited the sale of ivory from their websites. Additionally, international advertising company JCDecaux, has donated thousands of billboards to IFAW in China to educate the public about the harm to elephants from ivory trade. The Chinese word for ivory is elephant teeth, and so the education campaign aims to counter the misconception that elephants shed ivory in the same way that young mammals loose teeth with no harm to themselves. Although stakeholder demand for information has outstripped the research, scientists are now able to quantify many aspects of the impact of human actions on animals. The important question is how, and indeed whether, these welfare standards will be incorporated into practice. Signs are promising, with the development of farm animal welfare standards through producer/retailer/ngo partnerships and, at inter-governmental level, the development of a series of animal welfare guidelines under the auspices of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Future co-operation among all these groups, with input from bio-ethical panels and scientists, is imperative in responding to the complex issues emerging from the study of animal sentience. Credibility and support for global bodies, international conventions, agreements and standards depends on evidence that their decisions are based on sound science and sound ethics. Cindy Milburn Senior Policy Advisor International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) cmilburn@ifaw.org

29 Promoting HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS The humane care of animals used in research, testing and teaching is an important component in the refinement of the treatment of such animals, as first promoted by William Russell and Rex Burch in their 1959 publication The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. In essence, the aim is to reduce any pain and distress in the animals to an absolute minimum, an objective that makes sense not only because of ethical considerations, but also because it reduces variability within experiments and therefore allows for better results using fewer animals. In recognition of the increasingly global nature of science as an enterprise, with a clear scientific imperative for reproducibility of results and statistical validity of data and therefore of consistently high standards of animal care within research and testing institutions the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International) was formed. It is a private, nonprofit organisation that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary assessment and accreditation of agricultural and biomedical research programmes. Although the accreditation process is voluntary, more than 770 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 31 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use, and their willingness to go beyond compliance with the local, state and national laws that regulate animal research. In June 2008, Dr Kathryn Bayne, then Senior Director and Director of Pacific Rim Activities, now Global Director for AAALAC International, visited New Zealand to speak with representatives of institutions carrying out research, testing and teaching (RTT) involving animals about the processes of Program Status Evaluation (PSE) and accreditation with AAALAC. The visit was supported by MAF because of a perception that, despite the quality and effectiveness of the New Zealand legislative framework controlling the use of animals in RTT, some institutions, particularly those with international connections, might wish to further their reputation for humane animal care. For example, AAALAC accreditation provides a distinct advantage for those applying for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. The University of Otago is also considering international certification and has identified the resources necessary to accomplish the task of aligning its laboratory animal facilities with the AAALAC accreditation programme. The assessment and accreditation process is carried out by AAALAC Council members, accompanied by ad hoc consultants with different areas of expertise in the use of animals in science. As well as the overarching principles of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Academy Press) as assessment standards, the process uses the country s own local and national regulations and policies, allowing for differing legal and cultural issues. An important component of the AAALAC International accreditation process is the application of the Three Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) to the review of the animal care and use programme. In a further New Zealand connection, the Australia and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) with its interest in promoting excellence in the care of animals supplied for or used in research, testing, and teaching recently became an AAALAC Member Organisation, with representation on the AAALAC International Board of Trustees. Virginia Williams Animal Welfare Co-ordinator New Zealand Veterinary Association v.williams@xtra.co.nz New Zealand animal welfare and veterinary ethics consultant Dr Virginia Williams has been appointed an ad hoc consultant to the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International). Dr Williams is the incoming Chair of the New Zealand National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee and a former reviewer of code holders and animal ethics committees under s105 of the Animal Welfare Act She was appointed an AAALAC International ad hoc consultant on 1 September. Welfare Pulse December

30 International COMPASSION targets food industry The United Kingdom s Compassion in World Farming (Compassion) aims to place farm animal welfare at the heart of the food industry, writes the organisation s Chief Executive Philip Lymbery. Since our beginning more than 40 years ago, Compassion has focused on bringing about change through political lobbying and mobilising public support an approach that has been successful in getting cruel factory farming practices, such as the veal crate banned in the European Union (EU). More recently, Compassion has developed a new and complementary approach of engaging with the corporate community internationally. This approach is in recognition that the role of business in society has fundamentally changed over the past 20 years, as well as the potential for progress through engagement with the corporate sector. Today, businesses acknowledge the need to reduce their negative effects on people and natural resources, and address social and environmental issues beyond their own impacts. Today, businesses acknowledge the need to reduce their negative effects on people and natural resources, and address social and environmental issues beyond their own impacts. They can act as a force for positive development in both the local and global economy. Indeed, now it is business that is seen as offering solutions to many of the challenges traditionally Good Egg Award recipient Keith Kenny, of McDonald s Europe, receives a Good Egg Award from actress and Compassion in World Farming patron, Joanna Lumley. faced by governments. Over the past few years, Compassion has been running a small, but effective, engagement programme with food companies. Thanks to generous funding from The Tubney Charitable Trust, we are able to build on our success and ramp up our work with the food industry throughout Europe and beyond. Compassion s early food business engagement could be seen publicly through our Compassionate Supermarket of the Year awards in the United Kingdom (UK). The awards are recognised by the industry as an important part of their corporate social responsibility agenda and, as a result, several major UK supermarkets have taken huge strides along the animal welfare path. Following on from this success, and in view of the EU s decision to ban barren battery cages by 2012, the Good Egg Awards were born for companies for making the shift from purchasing and selling battery eggs in favour of cage-free (barn, free-range or organic) eggs. Now in their third year, the Good Egg Awards have grown from strength-tostrength, resulting in millions of hens being saved from life behind bars. The awards have so far taken place in London, Brussels and Paris in prestigious venues such as the European Parliament, UK House of Commons and the Eiffel Tower and have awarded leading international companies from food retail, service and manufacture sectors as well as the public sector. Winners include Carrefour, Starbucks, Unilever and McDonald s, to name just a few. The race is now on for global Good Egg Awards, and Compassion is already working with partners in other countries, such as the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), to bring the Good Eggs concept to other key countries. We aim to help food companies understand that farm animals matter and that they have a responsibility towards them. We will continue to build on our current partnerships and to forge new 28 Welfare Pulse December 2009

31 ones in order to improve the lives of the billions of farm animals reared for meat, milk and eggs every year. In the coming months and years, Compassion will initially be focusing its activities around key European food companies such as major supermarkets, food manufacturers and food service companies. By encouraging more businesses to improve on animal welfare, we also hope to create greater pressure for change in the market both through increased consumer choice and through pressure down the supply chain, influencing producers practices as they respond to their customers needs. We estimate that around 100 million farm animals a year are living better lives as a result of our food engagement work, and with continued efforts in this area the results can only get better. Philip Lymbery Chief Executive, Compassion in World Farming philip.lymbery@ciwf.org.uk Philip Lymbery HUMANE SLAUGHTER AWARD goes to Massey scientist Massey University s Associate Professor Craig Johnson has been honoured with a Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) award for his ground-breaking research into pain in cattle slaughtered by ventral neck cut without prior stunning. The HSA is a United Kingdom-based charity, which, through educational, scientific and technical advances, seeks to promote the highest worldwide standards of welfare for food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter. Dr Johnson received the award at a ceremony at the Farmers Club in London on 6 October. The award recognises Dr Johnson s research team leadership and the innovative application of a novel methodology developed by him over the previous 15 years. A key participant in this work was then-phd student at Massey, Troy Gibson, now Dr Gibson, and currently a post-doctoral research fellow working at the Royal Veterinary College in London with Professor Neville Gregory, an internationally-recognised authority on humane slaughter methodology. At the time the project began, the overwhelming international scientific view supported by anatomical, neurophysiological, neuropharmacological, surgical and other knowledge relevant to pain perception indicated that slaughter by neck cut in conscious animals would be very likely to cause pain and distress during the period before the slaughtered animals became insensible. Yet, some individual scientists held that the neck cut would not cause significant pain. The application of Dr Johnson s novel methodology provided the most direct evidence available to date that, during Professor Craig Johnson slaughter, a neck cut in conscious (unstunned) animals would cause a substantial level of noxious sensory input; that the source of this was the cutting of the neck tissue not the interruption of blood flow to the brain; and that effective percussive stunning immediately caused disordered brain function (insensibility) that would completely avoid any conscious experience of pain or distress. David J Mellor Dr Troy Gibson Co-Director, Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre Massey University d.j.mellor@massey.ac.nz Welfare Pulse December

32 International Reflections on WSPA LEADERSHIP On becoming Director-General of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in late 2002, I found, with one exception, that all the senior staff were in the process of leaving and there was a considerable morale problem to be overcome. Fortunately the Board had agreed to give me a reasonably free hand to rectify the situation and to take WSPA down the path that I, supported by the then-board, felt was necessary. I was given a five-year contract to turn WSPA from a niche organisation into a global animal welfare co-ordinator. I was given a five-year contract to turn WSPA from a niche organisation into a global animal welfare co-ordinator. WSPA then had around 40 staff based at the headquarters in London and relatively small numbers in regional headquarters in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, all of which were essentially fund raising centres. Regional headquarters in Costa Rica and Africa oversaw animal welfare projects in their areas, while projects in Asia were overseen by Australia and those in Europe and the Middle East by the London office. WSPA did little campaigning. The challenge, it appeared to me, was to: clarify the role and mission of WSPA; recruit senior staff to fill the gaps about to be created by resignations; motivate existing and new staff, and create a small team around me to facilitate proper command and control; motivate the 400 or so member societies to work more closely together; commence strategic campaigning based on global alliances of member societies; increase the number of member societies, particularly in countries where few, if any, existed; identify where new regional headquarters were required; and identify WSPA and its member societies as a science-based, pragmatic, lawful and professional alliance with which governments and international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and United Nations (UN)-led organisations in disaster relief, food safety, etc., could do business with and rely on. Those were the tasks on which I and my staff, supported by the WSPA Board, concentrated on for the next six years. A new senior staff member was selected, one of whom I made my deputy and the Chief of Staff. This reflected my military training, where in every command system there is a commander and a chief of staff. In simple terms, the Commander makes the decisions and the Chief of Staff co-ordinates the staff to carry out those decisions. This system, which requires a close relationship between the two, releases the Commander to: visit outstations to ensure his decisions are being carried out and to see work on the ground; visit key external organisations (in this case governments, significant international agencies and key member societies); and act generally as an ambassador for the whole organisation. The expansion of the member societies began when the Board agreed that WSPA should fundamentally become inclusive and not exclusive. Some internal resistance to this change of emphasis had to be overcome. Specialist campaigning staff were recruited, both for London and the larger regional headquarters. The campaign for a Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare (UDAW), which I had initiated while President of WSPA, gathered momentum under a more organised alliance-led system. The first new strategic global campaign was selected to introduce animal welfare into the deliberations of the International Whaling Commission and an alliance planning group of some 15 member societies was formed to take this forward, backed by an increasing number of member societies working in support in their respective countries. After personally chairing meetings designed to remove individual societies initial concerns about potentially divisive issues such as fundraising, public relations, collegial working, press releases and the like, realisation was reached that working as a global alliance was likely to produce infinitely better results than campaigning individually. It gradually became accepted that each partner society had to be flexible and be prepared to give a little ground if consensus was to be achieved. Chairing those meetings needed tact, objectivity, firmness and a considerable measure of good humour. The eventual results, some three years later, successfully produced the outcomes aimed for and, in the process, set the scene for further global campaigns that alliance members have 30 Welfare Pulse December 2009

33 shown increasing enthusiasm to join. A review of the number and location of regional headquarters was carried out next, leading to new headquarters being set up in China, India, Brazil and Thailand. With those achievements completed, the final objectives were approached by personal meetings with key governments (not least the animal welfare-friendly New Zealand Government) and other organisations, leading to the building up of mutual respect and trust, reiterating and demonstrating the advantages of working with the WSPA global alliance. Following this, memoranda of understanding and letters of commitment have been established with key international agencies in animal health, human health, humanitarian affairs, agriculture and the like, building on WSPA s UN linkage, to make the organisation and its member society alliance the influential body it is today. Major General Peter Davies, Director-General WSPA Ending animal cruelty The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is an international animal welfare organisation that aims to increase animal welfare standards. It has a network of more than 1000 independent animal welfare organisations, known as member societies, in more than 155 countries. WSPA s vision is of a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends. Promoting animal welfare for more than 25 years, WSPA is the world s largest alliance of animal welfare societies, and has consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Its work is concentrated in regions of the world where few, if any, measures exist to protect animals. Major General Peter Davies CB was Director-General of the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals for 11 years before taking up his position with WSPA in He had served on WSPA s board of directors since 1991 and was its President for the two years prior to being appointed Director-General. In June this year, Mr Davies received the Eurogroup award for outstanding service to animal welfare. Eurogroup for Animals represents a united voice for animal welfare organisations in Europe, working closely with European Union institutions. WSPA s new Director-General is Michael Baker, previously Chief Executive of The Brooke, a leading WSPA member society. For more information about WSPA see: Animal Welfare Award winner The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently recognised individuals for their efforts to advance animal welfare, dedication to animal care, and contributions to the community and society. Among those recognised was Dr. Kathryn Bayne, who received the AVMA Animal Welfare Award. This award is given annually to an AVMA member veterinarian to recognise achievements in advancing the welfare of animals through leadership, public service, education, research and advocacy. Dr. Bayne is Global Director for the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AALAC) International, a private, non profit organisation that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary assessment and accreditation of agricultural and biomedical research programmes. In this role she directs the global accreditation programme and travels extensively throughout the Pacific Rim (and visited New Institute of Health leading a research programme on nonhuman primate psychological well-being and environmental enrichment programmes for primates, dogs, cats and swine. Recently Dr. Bayne was also awarded the 2009 Distinguished Veterinary Alumnus Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research from Washington State University who stated that her work as an internationally recognised knowledgeable and pragmatic leader in the field of laboratory animal medicine makes her aptly deserving of this years award. Welfare Pulse December

34 USA Update NAIT, NAIS and the perils of a common language Many countries are developing livestock tracking systems. Australia has its National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), New Zealand is developing National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT), and the United States has the foundering National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The concept is that tracking animals from birth to consumption allows us to improve food safety. However, tracking does not offer an immediate financial benefit to the farmer therefore most farming groups are unenthusiastic, running about 80 percent in opposition. But the nature of opposition in America speaks to the national differences in responses to their proposals. For example, many mainstream commentators in the United States do not accept that NAIS is motivated by good intentions: NAIS does nothing to stop disease or contamination in the food supply. NAIS was not intended for this purpose NoNAIS.org NAIS is not about preventing mad cow or other diseases. Ron Paul, Member of Congress from Texas They argue that NAIS aims to drive smaller farmers out of business by placing a disproportionately large financial burden on them relative to large agri-business operations. The [United States Department of Agriculture] USDA s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS) was originally designed to give the big beef producers help in getting export markets... [it] is about track-back and more importantly expanded profits for the big corporate producers who want more export markets. Everything else about NAIS is a ruse to get the public to swallow their swill. NoNAIS.org Resistance to a federal identification system goes even deeper, and some communities feel increasingly aggrieved about the perceived erosion of their rights and the danger of creeping socialism. people s rights to manage their land and animals will be restricted Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance NAIS will violate individuals Constitutional rights, including freedom of religion and right to privacy. Liberty Ark Coalition Legally, livestock animals are a form of personal property. The NAIS plan refers to a national herd, and the plan as a whole clearly indicates the Government s vision: no one will be allowed to own animals or do anything with them without government involvement. Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance Logically speaking, any effective tracking system would need to be mandatory. However, the USDA knows that this option cannot even be openly considered. Compare and contrast: Ultimately, every livestock animal in New Zealand will be tagged. Jim Anderton, New Zealand MP and Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture USDA has no plans to make participation in any component of NAIS mandatory USDA strongly believes that the best approach to NAIS is a voluntary system driven by the States and the private sector. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) In some sectors of the US, international pressures are perceived as threatening, not only economically, but ethically as with the export of slaughtered horses for human consumption prior to the ban of horse slaughter. NAIS places our family farmers and ranchers at an economic disadvantage against agribusiness and overseas competition. Ron Paul, Member of Congress from Texas There are even stronger difficulties relating to religious beliefs. Amish and Mennonite farmers have firm prohibitions against marking animals, and some evangelical Christians genuinely detect evidence for the impending apocalypse in animal identification technology. The Bible predicts the onset of a one world government the National Animal Identification System which would place tracking chips in all animals right down to chickens Could this be the Mark Of The Beast? Evangelical Examiner While these excerpts are drawn from partisan groups, the proportion of the American population with similar fears should not be underestimated. Widespread resistance to NAIS is just one example of how American sub-cultures see federal regulation and international harmonisation as threatening to their way of life. The common people are virtually universally against NAIS Ask yourself what can you do to stop the government from taking away our rights? NoNAIS. org the downside of handing this kind of power to the government is so huge and 32 Welfare Pulse December 2009

35 so obvious that anybody with a sense of history has to suspect that the public rationale for NAIS is a smokescreen for some darker motive people who keep animals and buy local produce also frequently own guns, and by and large would like to be left alone to pursue their own interest This is clearly a dangerously subversive subculture, and knowing where they are would be very helpful in case of a, ahem, public health crisis. view.asp?id=105 It is easy to assume that Englishspeaking audiences are broadly similar: facing the same issues, coming up with similar solutions and speaking in the same language often the very same words. But these words are weighted with culture-specific meanings. Similar emotional resonance occurs when mainstream animal welfare issues are seen predominantly as not reflecting widespread ethics of care and compassion, but sinister vegan agenda to destroy agriculture entirely. Likewise welfare is conflated when animal rights are seen as perversely overtaking the rights of humans, especially children. America is at a turning point when it comes to animal welfare, and New Zealanders will influence decisions made as individuals and through international agencies such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and World Trade Organization (WTO). But I sometimes see American audiences bristle at the unintentional resonances of foreign speaker s presentations, especially those from Australasia, the United Kingdom and Canada. These speakers do not always appear to notice the ripples of disquiet, and many would no doubt be bemused to hear attendees later drawing unfavourable parallels to gun control, construction zones, socialised health care and abortion. We should certainly say what we mean and mean what we say but be sure to stay for the entire meeting and attend the reception to correct any unforeseen misconceptions. The facts and ideas we share need to be translated into the American ethical, sociological, economic and even religious context. Animal welfare, like food safety, should be common ground for the world community but only if everyone involves feels they are part of a dialogue, and not increasingly subject to the dictates of powerful un-american others. Emily Patterson-Kane Animal Welfare Scientist American Veterinary Medical Association ekane@avma.org 2010 upcoming events May World Merino Conference 4 5 May 2010, France Pan Pacific Veterinary Conference May 2010, Brisbane Australia avacms.eseries.hengesystems.com.au/am/template.cfm?section=may_2010&template=/cm/htmldisplay.cfm&contentid=10836 June OIE Global Conference for Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres June 2010, Paris, France July August November 2010 ANZCCART conference July Hobart, Australia ISAE, 44th International Congress 3 7 August Uppsala, Sweden IDF World Dairy Summit November 2010, Auckland, New Zealand Welfare Pulse December