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REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF HOUSE OF KEYS Douglas, Tuesday, June 6, 1978 at 11 a.m. Present: The Speaker (the Hon. H. C. so on. Persons with farming experience Kerruish, O.B.E.), Messrs. R. J. G. Anderson, acknowledge that where horned animals are W. K. Quirk, J. J. Radcliffe, P. Radcliffe, concerned, particularly in the dairy herds, J. N. Radcliffe, Dr. E. J. Mann, Messrs. one vicious animal can cause havoc and A. A. Callin, R. IL. Watterson, J. R. Creer, severe injury to hides, eyes and, above all, E. G. Lowey, M. R. Walker, N. Q. Cringle, udders, and in a few minutes render useless Mrs. E. C. Quayle, Messrs. W. A. Moore, possibly an extremely valuable animal. One E. M. Ward, B.E.M., P. A. Craine, D. F. K. horned beast in a herd of de-horned Delaney, E. C. Irving, Mrs. B. Q. Hanson, animals will very quickly realise that it has Messrs. T. E. Kermeen, I.S.O., R. Mac- an advantage over its fellows and very Donald, J. J. Christian, G. C. Swales, with quickly becomes a bully. Bulls can, of Mr. R. B. M. Quayle, Secretary of the course, be much more dangerous and it is House. generally acknowledged here that many farmers lives have been lost as a result of being trapped by dangerous bulls. This BILLS FOR FIRST READING. danger also applies to ramblers and other The Speaker: Bills for first reading. persons crossing land where cattle are grazing and are faced by a bull which The Secretary: Usury Acts (Repeal) Bill— resents their presence. De-horning in the Mr. P. Radcliffe; Rabies (Amendment) Bill Isle of Man has taken place for very many — Mr. Craine. years as a condition of payment of calf subsidy, and with this scheme now coming HORNED ANIMALS BILL — THIRD to an end this Bill is essential for the con- READING APPROVED. tinuity of the de-horning of cattle practice. West European countries and most other The Speaker: For third reading we have agriculturally developed countries have also the Horned Animals Bill. I call upon the adopted the de-horning practice, and to hon. member for Rushen, Mr. Walker. suggest that this Island should not operate Mr. Walker: Mr. Speaker, yourself and similar de-horning measures would be a O hon. members will recall the emotion ex- retrograde step in terms of animal welfare, presssed by many members when debating human safety and farm economics. I feel it this Bill at its second reading stage. There is important to remember that the Cruelty is clearly a need for legislation in this field to Animals (Anaesthetics) Act of 1965 and 1 feel that good judgment was on that provides that farmers may dis-bud their occasion clouded by undue emotion. I say animals up to 14 days of age by chemical undue because on this occasion I really cauterisation without a local anaesthetic, think that that was the case. I am personally although in practice many use a mild anaes- opposed to any sort of cruelty and would thetic solution which can be obtained from not support, let alone handle, any legislation agricultural merchants. It is important to which could be interpreted as such. The appreciate that after that age it is unlawful compulsory de-horning of cattle has been, for an animal to be de-horned other than without doubt, one of the most beneficial by a veterinary surgeon using an anaesthetic. measures to the world farming industry, not If an attempt is made to de-horn animals only for the welfare and safety of the between three and six months, unless a very animals themselves, but also for the farmers, deep cut is made and cautery applied, the farmworkers, hauliers, slaughtermen, and horn will very often grow again. However, • Bills for First Reading. — Horned Animals Bill—Third Reading Approved. K334 HOUSE OF KEYS, JUNE 6, 1978 if they are de-horned after six months of veterinary surgeon said, "No, honestly, age a complete and satisfactory operation will not do it because it would not be the • can be carried out with no additional treat- thing with the number of flies and the heat ment. Hence the veterinary reason for the and the hot weather. I will leave it until the exemption of animals of less than 12 months autumn." This indicates the view of the in clause 3 of the Bill which, you will recall, practice as far as this is concerned. I do was subsequently amended. Secondly, it is think that this Bill should be amended. common knowledge that the bulk of calves in the Manx beef and suckler herds are born Mr. J. N. Radcliffe: Mr. Speaker, I cannot out of doors in the period from March to let this Bill pass through the House on its May, and then run at foot with their third reading without once again making mothers. The practical effect of the amend- reference to the fact that the agricultural ment reducing the minimum age from 12 to community in the main is only very luke- six months is that every baby calf will have warm about the contents of this Bill. I will to be caught and dis-budded by chemical not go into great detail about the whys and cauterisation, which is completely imprac- wherefores because most members will be tical, if not impossible. It should be borne quite well aware that it is because of the in mind also that chemical cauterisation is cessation of the calf-rearing subsidy scheme seldom 100 per cent. effective. It is contrary and its de-horning requirements that this to all known veterinary and farming practice Bill has come about. The hon. mover said to de-horn in the summer months because in his opening remarks that one horned • of the heat, flies and grub infections. Any animal in a herd is a bad thing, that he or veterinary surgeon carrying out de-horning she is the master of the herd. I would refute procedure during the summer months, ex- that and say that it is not really a valid cept in special circumstances such as broken argument. I have a small herd and there is horns, would be guilty of gross professional in it one horned animal, and that animal incompetence and could face the risk of is definitely not the master of the herd; the civil action for compensation in the event de-horned animals are the ones who do the of subsequent infection or death. The Board pushing around. So his argument about one of Agriculture had all these eventualities and beast with horns on being in control is not, reasons in mind when proposing the initial to my mind, a really good or valid argu- 12-month minimum age, so as to allow the ment. I think that this Bill is interfering animals to be de-horned after September with an owner's privilege to do what he when they are very often weaned and wants and wishes with his own stock, that wormed at the same time. In relation to is, to have stock with or without horns on exports, it is unlawful to mix de-horned and them. Up until now that privilege has not horned cattle on safety and welfare grounds, been interfered with because if a farmer and if the practice of de-horning is not con- wished to leave horns on his animals there tinued it will not be possible to maintain was nothing to prevent him. It meant, of the present valuable export of Manx store course, that he could not claim the relevant and breeding livestock. So it is with that end calf subsidy, but that was entirely his own • in mind, I believe, that it is imperative we decision. He lost the subsidy, something pass the third reading of this Bill today, and between £8 and £18 --that was according that the 12-month age limit be reinstated in to the years, it has been up and down -- another place. I beg to move the third and he could regard that perhaps as a fine, reading. if you like, but it was one of his own making. Now he is to have no option at all Mrs. Quayle: I beg to second and reserve about it; it is de-horn your cattle or be fined my remarks. a figure up to £100. It rather amused me to Mr. Anderson: I rise to support this, Mr. hear the hon. mover say at second reading Speaker. I do think it is important that stage that the Board of Agriculture was not somewhere along the line it is amended be- being dictatorial in this Bill. Anyone could cause people who are dealing with this keep cattle, said the hon. mover, as long as problem —I know of an occasion only this they were de-horned. What could be more past week where I had two animals requiring dictatorial than that? If there is as much very minor operations which would be of a opposition to horned animals within the similar nature to de-horning and the industry as the hon. mover would have us Horned Animals Bill—Third Reading Approved. • HOUSE OF KEYS, JUNE 6, 1978 K335 believe, the probability is that when it came Isle of Man, well then of course we are • to selling animals, the seller of an animal going to have to comply, and this is another with horns on — and I think this is where direction which should come from the the crunch would be—would not receive the Board of Agriculture.

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