Defra has launched a consultation on proposed restrictions to sheep castration and tail docking, aiming to improve lamb welfare through greater use of pain relief and alternative methods.

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The UK government has launched a consultation on proposed changes to sheep management practices aimed at improving lamb welfare, including tighter controls on castration and tail docking.

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The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said the procedures, which are commonly carried out using rubber rings and often without pain relief, can cause both short- and long-term pain. The proposals follow recommendations from the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC), which has reviewed the welfare impacts of these practices in a series of reports, most recently in 2022.

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Under the proposals, farmers would be expected to take additional steps to minimise pain where castration or tail docking is deemed necessary. This could include wider use of analgesia or anaesthesia, improved access to alternative methods shown to be less harmful, and clearer rules on who can carry out specific procedures, as well as how and when they are performed.

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Defra said the measures are designed to reflect the latest scientific evidence while remaining practical for farmers. The consultation will also gather information from stakeholders on the logistical and operational impacts of the proposed changes.

Source:Department for Enviroment Food &Rural Affairs, This article is a condensed and independently written summary of original reporting and market data from GOV.UK / DEFRA, adapted for Dalytrading.co.uk.

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