QUEENSLAND’s livestock industries are closely monitoring developments in a case involving the castration of two race horses, allegedly “without preparatory pain relief.”
The Queensland Racing Crime Squad has charged Stan Johnston from Kenilworth under the Animal Care and Protection Act and given him notice to appear in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on November 15.
Nambour-based solicitor, Peter Boyce, said there was no question that pain-killing measures were undertaken and that Mr Johnston would be fighting the charges.
Mr Johnston has also been charged with having a prohibited “thing”, understood to be a set of emasculators.
Mr Johnston is particularly well known in country racing, and for his ongoing efforts in bringing drought assistance to western Queensland.
AgForce Cattle past president Bim Struss, who also sits on Queensland’s Animal Welfare Advisory Board, said he was concerned about the possible impacts for the beef industry.
“Castration is a normal and necessary husbandry practice for livestock,” Mr Struss said.
“Personally, I am a great believer in veterinary supervision and in pain relief products such as Tri-Solfen, but we need to be clear where we stand.”
Mr Struss said the endorsed Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle said castration and dehorning was able to be performed by a person with the relevant knowledge, skills and experience on calves up to six months of age.
“However, the guidelines also say castration and dehorning can also carried out by a suitable person on calves up to 12 months, if it is their first yarding and it is approved in that jurisdiction.
“Above those ages the guidelines say a person in charge must provide appropriate pain relief. There is no mention of vets.”
Australian Veterinary Association equine spokesperson, Dr Christy Secombe, said castration was covered by the Veterinarians Surgeons Act and the Animal Care and Protection Act.
She said up to the age of six months for calves and lambs, two months for goats and three weeks for pigs, castration was recognised as a husbandry practice.
However, after those respective ages, the castration of any livestock became a veterinary practice because an anaesthetic was required.
The castration of horses, because the procedure was usually carried out at an older age, was always considered a veterinary practice, she said. Dr Secombe said horses also needed vet-supervised after care.
“It can be either a local or a general anaesthetic, but it can only be dispensed by a vet,” Dr Secombe said.
