EuroGroup For Animals

The European Food Safety Authority, the EU risk assessment body for food and feed safety, published an interesting recommendation based on the latest scientific evidence on exposing the major welfare problems of cattle kept for beef production and the welfare in intensive calf farming systems…

With regard to mutilations such as castration the report states that “cattle at any age should always be provided with local or regional anaesthesia at the time of surgical mutilations and systemic analgesia for two days or so thereafter.” Approximately 35 % of beef cattle in Europe are disbudded and 15 % are dehorned by amputation. Nevertheless, disbudding or dehorning with sedation only, results in severe stress and pain. READ MORE