Date: 18 May 2007

New code sets out principles of care for deer

The Deer Code of Welfare, issued yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, aims to encourage all deer farmers to adopt the highest standards of husbandry, care and handling. It sets out general principles of care and is enhanced by Deer Industry New Zealand’s (DINZ) DeerQA On-Farm Programme, which incorporates the recommendations of the code.

The code applies to any deer held behind any boundary fence or enclosure for farming and includes deer kept on game estates and safari parks. It covers all aspects of deer production except the removal of velvet and castration, which are covered by separate codes.

This is the first pastoral code of welfare. It addresses the issues of shade and shelter, and includes sections on hot and cold conditions like heat stress and hypothermia. Like all grazing stock, deer need access to shelter and shade in hot and very cold weather and they need a dry place to lie down.

The ‘hiding’ instinct is more strongly developed in deer and access of hinds to places to hide their fawns is a critical behavioral requirement.

“It is not uncommon to see deer in paddocks with no or inadequate shelter or areas in which they can exercise their instinctive behaviour. Interestingly, providing hiding places carries an economic benefit as well as a welfare benefit, as fawn survival is significantly improved”, said National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) Chairman, Peter O’Hara.

“The proactive development of good industry codes of practice and quality assurance systems has put the deer industry in a strong position to feel confident that deer farmers can comply with this code”, Dr O’Hara said.
The code also addresses the issue of pre-transport selection. Transport can have a significant impact on animal welfare and is one of the most stressful events occurring in the life of farmed deer. Careful management of pre-transport selection is crucial in managing the welfare impacts of transport. Transport is covered under the Animal Welfare Act and a separate code of welfare is under development.

Minimum standards in this code cover:
- stockmanship and the requirement for adequate training
- adequate daily quantities of food and water

- requirements for adequate shelter
- appropriate design, construction and maintenance of handling and holding facilities (including those used for overwintering), and management of deer in holding facilities
- restraint and handling practices (electric prodders or goads must not be used)
- appropriate maintenance and use of restraint equipment
- management of social behaviour and mixing groups of deer
- management of male deer (hard antler deer must be kept separate from those without hard antler)

- management of female deer and fawns (including hand rearing of fawns)
- management of weaning (including requirement for frequent inspection and provision of ample high quality, familiar feed, water and shelter to weaners)
- remedial action for ill health or injury
- requirements for inspection appropriate to the circumstances and class of deer
- requirements around pre-transport selection of animals

The code was drafted by Deer Industry New Zealand with input from deer farmers, veterinarians, scientific researchers, processor exporters, stock and station agents, and other interest groups. NAWAC considered the views of these groups, and members of the public, before recommending to the Minister of Agriculture that the code be issued.

“This code is the culmination of a lot of hard work and reflects the proactive stance on animal welfare the deer industry has taken since the early 1990s. In a world of growing concern about animal welfare, the industry has shown itself to be a model for the positive management of change,” Dr O’Hara said.
NAWAC was established by the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

The Committee has a number of prescribed functions including providing advice to the Minister on any matter pertaining to the welfare of animals, identifying research requirements, advice on legislative matters and the development of codes of welfare.

One of the purposes of a code of welfare is to establish minimum standards with regard to the way in which people care for, and conduct themselves towards the animals they own or are in their charge. Failure to meet minimum standards may be used as evidence in prosecutions under the Act. Conversely, it is defence if one can show that minimum standards have been met or exceeded.
The Deer Code is available online at www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animal-welfare/codes or by request from animalwelfare@maf.govt.nz

ENDS

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