« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
2. Procedures for the purposes of controlling reproduction
41. We propose that a number of procedures which are undertaken to control reproduction in animals will continue to be permitted. These are vasectomy, spaying, ova transplantation by surgical methods and castration. Each will be discussed in turn:
2.1 Vasectomy
42. Vasectomy is a procedure used in farm species, especially sheep, to produce infertile males to stimulate and detect oestrus in females. It is undertaken largely as a management procedure. We wish to keep vasectomy as an exempted procedure under the Regulations.
43. It is proposed that this procedure will continue to be permitted for controlling reproduction in relation to all species of animal.
2.2 Spaying
44. Spaying is the removal of the ovaries from a female animal. In companion animals, it is undertaken to prevent unwanted pregnancies. It reduces the incidence of several serious gynaecological conditions (including uterine infection and uterine and ovarian cancer), and reduces the chance of mammary cancer and uterine infection. It also prevents or reduces the psychological problems associated with daily contact with the continuous presence and smell of the opposite sex of the species in heavily populated areas, decreases the desire of the animal to roam to mate, and, generally increases the lifespan and their quality of life. It also helps to reduce the number of unwanted pets. In companion animals the practice is commonly undertaken and it is estimated that many thousands of animals are spayed each year.
45. We wish to ensure that this procedure can continue to be performed. The Regulations notes that it will be permitted to control reproduction in relation to all species of animal.
2.3 Surgical ova transportation
46. Ova transportation by surgical methods is another means of controlling reproduction. Fertilised embryos are collected from donors of high genetic merit and implanted into recipients of lower genetic value, thereby increasing the number of possible offspring from the donor. It is mostly done in cattle and sheep but can also be performed in horses and other species. It is estimated that each year a few hundred livestock in Scotland undergo ova transplantation by surgical methods.
47. We wish to permit the use of ova transplantation by surgical methods in relation to all species of animals.
2.4 Castration - cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, horses and companion animals
48. Castration is the removal of the testicles in male animals. It is undertaken for a range of welfare reasons. "Codes of recommendation for the welfare of livestock" recommend that stock keepers should consider carefully whether it is necessary to undertake this procedure and suggest that it should be avoided wherever possible.
49. We propose that castration should continue to be permitted to control reproduction in relation to all species of animal. In relation to pigs some restrictions are placed on the procedure. The additional restrictions placed on specific species is noted below:
2.4.1 Castration of cattle, sheep and goats
50. It is proposed that the castration of cattle, sheep and goats will continue to be permitted. There are no additional restrictions placed on the castration of these animals.
2.4.2 Castration of pigs
51. Few pigs are castrated in Scotland or throughout the UK, compared to around 30 years ago, when nearly all male pigs were castrated in order to avoid meat quality problems and to fulfil subsidy requirements. "Codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock: pigs" advise that male pigs may be castrated provided the means employed do not involve the tearing of tissues.
52. There will be three restrictions placed on the castration of pigs:
- It may only be performed to control reproduction;
- It may only be performed by means which do not involve the tearing of tissues;
- If it is being undertaken by a person other than a veterinary surgeon, then that person must be trained in accordance with the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2000.
2.4.3 Castration of horses
53. Castration is undertaken in horses to avoid unwanted breeding.
54. It is not proposed that there will be any additional specific restrictions placed on the castration of horses.
2.4.4 Castration of companion animals and other animals which have not been specified
55. The procedure of castration will continue to be permitted to control reproduction in relation to all species of animal.
2.4.5 Further control of reproduction procedures
56. We believe that we have included all the mutilations covering the control of reproduction that should be permitted under section 20(5) of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
Question 4: Are there any other procedures that control reproduction which should be included in the Regulations?
Question 5: Do you agree with the additional restrictions that are placed on the castration of pigs?
57. We have included some restrictions on how castration of pigs can be performed. These are noted in Schedule 2 to the Regulations.
« Previous | Contents | Next »