Gamekeepers to Fight "Flawed" Government Code
15 March 2010
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) has pledged to fight against the poorly drafted Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes, laid before Parliament today.
NGO Chairman, Lindsay Waddell, said:
“We have no objection to the principle of a welfare code and indeed we welcomed an earlier draft on which the Government consulted during the winter, but changes made since then without the involvement of the Defra Gamebird Working Group - and only published today- have turned the text into nonsense. We will not allow our members to be put at risk of malicious prosecution by a flawed official document.”
The NGO said it was particularly bothered by a new requirement which makes the catching up of wild birds to enhance a breeding flock practically impossible. “The code says we cannot mix incoming birds with others we already hold ‘for the entire breeding season’. Well just how are the birds supposed to mate?” asked Lindsay Waddell.
The inclusion of new space allowances for laying gamebirds is also problematic, according to the NGO: “The sizes specified are not based on any science or experience known to us and the way they have been written into the code is botched and will create further welfare and legal problems.”
“There is also a new requirement for all kept gamebirds to be checked at least twice a day for signs of injury or disease, including birds confined in release pens. That is double the requirement in the original draft and double what is required for most other livestock. Where is the justification for this increase in the gamekeeper’s workload, to say nothing of the added stress imposed on the birds?”
The NGO also pointed out another completely new clause in the code requiring that, ‘The siting of release pens should take into consideration the avoidance of subsequent harm or injury, for example by predators or vehicles.’ “Does this put gamekeepers at risk of prosecution for releasing pheasants in an area with lots of buzzards or within pheasant-walking distance of a road?” asked Mr Waddell.
The NGO Chairman concluded:
“All these silly requirements have been added to the code at the eleventh hour, up until which time it made excellent sense. It had been written by an expert group convened by Defra, and following the advice of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. Now has become a dog’s dinner. It should be withdrawn forthwith until it can be sorted out. Every organisation that supports British game rearing should now stand up and call for this flawed code to be withdrawn and reconsidered.”
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes can be seen on the Defra website.