Testing the serving capacity of beef bulls

Authors: Fraser D
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 31, Issue 3, pp 40, Mar 1983
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal welfare, Reproduction, Reproduction - male
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Mr Packard`s disappointing reply to my letter shows that he has failed to realise the seriousness of the situation. The reaction from people attending the demonstration at West Wanaka Station was due not to emotion but to a display of total lack of concern for animal welfare. I find it hard to believe that Dr Blockey in Australia or those practitioners involved in New Zealand ever envisaged the test descending to the level it did at Wanaka. Indeed I have heard from one practitioner who assures me that if certain measures are taken, stress to the female is at an absolute minimum. These measures seem to have been largely absent at Wanaka. What concerns me most, however, is that while these serving capacity tests obviously demand a high degree of responsibility if due attention to small animal welfare is carried out, the need for this responsibility is completely ignored in the AgLink FPP 447. Bearing in mind that this AgLink is available to all and sundry, it can be expected that some farmers inevitably resort to attempting the test on their own without proper supervision or advice and with consequently undesirable results. It is my opinion that the part of the AgLink on servingcapacity tests should be withdrawn or amended and that…

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