Thoughts on velveting

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 14

Thoughts on velveting

Canterbury [deer farmers believe the animal rights and welfare movements will have no reason i to ; object to the velveting of stags. | The ethics of the annual velveting operation! was an unscheduled topic at a recent) field day in Christchurch for deer farmers. Mr Mark Acland, a deer farmer of Mt Somers, said he believed velveting was humane, provided it was done | with carefii and proper handling and good stockmanship. i He agreed that the velveting operation did not look good iwhen compared with shearing wool' off a sheep’s back. I But Mr! Acland said he had noticed that old stags, even those which h)ad had their velvet removed several times, were yarded more freely when velveting was ! about to take place than sheep, were

when shearing was due. |‘‘For some reason the stags have no bad memories about velveting and they still remain good fijiends.” Mr Acland emphasised that velvet should be removed under good veterinary supervision. The stags did not seem to riiind having their velvet cut off and it was not like dehorning a cattle beast. There were a lot of other jobs which seemed a lot tougher on animals than velveting. , ] Another prominent deer farmer, Mr!James Guild, of Rakaia Gorge, said it was important to differentiate between the animal rights movement and ani- j mai welfare supporters. Animal ) rights people seemed to want to treat apimals as human beings ind appeared to consider Eemselves as the mouth- ! piece for animals.

The animal welfare movement was much more realistic with belief that the treatment and handling of animals should be humane and done carefully.

In New Zealand, the deer farming industry carefully ensured that its veterinary practices were approved by the Veterinary Association, said Mr Guild. The Deer Farmers’ Association fully endorsed the removal of antlers with local anaesthetic and tranquillisers and by no, other means.

“All we can do is guard against bad practice amongst our own members,” he said. Any bad cases should be reported to the Deer Farmers' Association.

Mr Guild said stags could injure each other more easily! if the antlers were left on.