BRANDING OF FOALS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30212, 17 August 1963, Page 12

BRANDING OF FOALS

‘Essential’ For Identification (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 16. The branding of young thoroughbred horses is an essential factor in positive identification, without which accurate recording of the horses foaled each year would be next to impossible. Mr G. H. Grigg, president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, said this today in reply to allegations of cruelty in the fire-branding of weanling thoroughbreds, which is mandatory under the stud book regulations adopted by the conference last year. Mr Grigg said the firebranding of all yearlings offered at the National Sales had been compulsory for the last five years and there had been no criticism. To make identification more accurate, the Racing Conference, after several years of negotiation with the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and horsemen of long experience, had introduced the system of branding foals just before they were weaned at the age of about six months. This made identification as near foolproof as possible It closed the door on mistaken identity and the risk of “ring-ins.” According to veterinary opinion, the pain from firebranding was no greater to a horse six months old than it was to a yearling. The younger the patient, the quicker it forgot the experience. When branding was performed by skilled operators, the young horse showed no sign of pain within a few minutes.

Mr Grigg said the alternative of lip-tattoing had been investigated and would be looked into again by a delegation to America this month. The cost factor was the greatest hindrance, and New Zealand vendors would still have to fire-brand horses they sold to Australia, where it was compulsory.