Regulation 3
When carried out on cattle, a procedure listed below must be carried out in accordance with the condition or conditions specified for that procedure.
1. Castration
When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum, the procedure may only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days.
When any other method is used, an anaesthetic must be administered where the animal is aged 2 months or over.
2. Embryo collection or transfer by a surgical method
An anaesthetic must be administered.
3. Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive
The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal.
The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.
4. Ovum transplantation, including ovum collection, by a surgical method
An anaesthetic must be administered.
5. Vasectomy
An anaesthetic must be administered.
6. Dehorning
An anaesthetic must be administered.
7. Disbudding
The procedure may only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 6 months.
When the method used is chemical cauterisation, the procedure may only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days.
When any other method is used an anaesthetic must be administered.
8. Removal of supernumerary teats
An anaesthetic must be administered where the animal is aged 3 months or over.
Regulation 3
When carried out on a pig, a procedure listed below must be carried out in accordance with the condition or conditions specified for that procedure.
1. Castration
The method used must not involve the tearing of tissues.
An anaesthetic and additional prolonged analgesia must be administered where the animal is aged 7 days or over.
2. Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive
The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal.
The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.
3. Vasectomy
An anaesthetic must be administered.
4. Nose ringing
The procedure may only be carried out on an animal that is not kept continuously in an indoor husbandry system.
5. Tail docking
The procedure may only be carried out where measures to improve environmental conditions or management systems have first been taken to prevent tail-biting, but there is still evidence to show that injury to pigs’ tails by biting has occurred.
The method used must involve quick and complete severance of the tail.
An anaesthetic and additional prolonged analgesia must be administered where the animal is aged 7 days or over.
6. Tooth reduction
The procedure may only be carried out on an animal that is aged not more than 7 days.
The procedure must consist only of the uniform reduction of the corner teeth by either grinding or clipping so as to leave an intact smooth surface.
The procedure may only be carried out where measures to improve environmental conditions or management systems have first been taken to prevent tail-biting and other vices, but there is still evidence to show that injury to sows’ teats or to other pigs’ ears or tails by biting has occurred.
7. Tusk trimming
The procedure may only be carried out where there is evidence to show that it is necessary to prevent injury to other animals or for safety reasons.
Regulation 3
When carried out on a bird, a procedure listed below must be carried out in accordance with the condition or conditions specified for that procedure.
1. Castration
The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.
The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.
An anaesthetic must be administered.
2. Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive
The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.
The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.
3. Ovidectomy
The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.
The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.
An anaesthetic must be administered.
4. Vasectomy
The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.
The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.
An anaesthetic must be administered.
5. Beak trimming of poultry
The procedure must be performed using a suitable instrument, and on—
(a) both the lower and upper beaks, with not more than one third of each removed, or
(b) the upper beak only, with not more than one third removed.
Any subsequent haemorrhage from the beak must be arrested by cauterisation.
On poultry that are intended to become laying hens and which are kept on establishments with 350 or more laying hens, the procedure—
(i) may only be carried out in order to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism;
(ii) may only be carried out before 1st January 2011;
(iii) may not be performed on poultry that are intended to become laying hens (or which are laying hens) and which are aged 10 days or over.
6. Desnooding
Where the turkey is aged not more than 21 days, the procedure may be carried out either by manual pinching-out or with a suitable instrument.
7. De-toeing of domestic fowl and turkeys
The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 3 days or over unless a veterinary surgeon considers that it is necessary that it be carried out.
An anaesthetic must be administered where the bird is aged 3 days or over.
8. Dubbing
The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 3 days or over unless a veterinary surgeon considers that it is necessary that it be carried out.
An anaesthetic must be administered where the bird is aged 3 days or over.
9. Laparoscopy
An anaesthetic must be administered.
10. Wing pinioning
The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.
An anaesthetic must be administered where the bird is aged 10 days or over.
Regulation 3
When carried out on a sheep, a procedure listed below must be carried out in accordance with the condition or conditions specified for that procedure.
1. Castration
When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum, the procedure may only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days.
When any other method is used, an anaesthetic must be administered where the animal is aged 3 months or over.
2. Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive
The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal.
The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.
3. Vasectomy
An anaesthetic must be administered.
4. Dehorning
An anaesthetic must be administered.
5. Tail docking
In all cases, enough of the tail must be retained to cover the vulva of a female animal or the anus of a male animal.
When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the tail, the procedure may only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days.
When any other method is used an anaesthetic must be administered.