De-velveting without anaesthetic—S.P.C.A.

Press, 1 June 1985, Page 13

De-velveting without anaesthetic—S.P.C.A.

PA Hamilton New Zealand deer are suffering and distressed because some deer farmers removing velvet do not use anaesthetic. The national director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mr Neil Wells, said up to 80 per cent of New Zealand deer farmers might be removing velvet without anaesthetic. “Velvet is living tissue. Removing velvet without anaesthetic would cause suffering and distress,” he said. A Ministry of Agriculture veterinary officer likened removal of velvet without anaesthetic to removal of a human toe nail. The deer

would struggle and become violent, he said. A Waikato-based deer consultant, Mr Peter Floyd, said that at the most, 20 per cent of deerfarmers would not use anaesthetic. Mr Floyd said he had seendevelveting without anaesthetic both in New Zealand and in Korea and deer did not appear stressed. ‘But there, is no way the Deer Farmers’ Association or industry want to be offside with the S.P.C.A. We are very sensitive to that,” he said. The president of the New Zealand Deerfarmers’ Association, Mr John Burrowes, said he was not aware of any significant

velveting without the use of drugs. “More farmers are working very closely with veterinary practitioners who are advising and assisting with velveting,” he said. Mr Burrowes said that association’s policy followed compliance with the law, which specifies use of drugs and veterinary assistance in removing deer velvet, and supported proper animal welfare practices. However, he said it was possible that some deer farmers living in isolated areas might de-velvet without using drugs because of the cost of getting a vet to visit.