Acts of Abuse or Neglect |
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Evidence of abuse or neglect should be noted if it occurs at any point during the audit. If not reprimanded (without evidence that there is a process in place to intervene and correct the problem), this is considered a critical non-conformance
Abuse
This includes, but is not limited to:
*Hitting = when an arm (or any driving aid) swings back behind the frontal plane of the body and then forward, or is lifted above shoulder level and then down.
*Kicking = when the leg (or any driving aid) as swung back, behind the frontal plane of the body and then forward.
*Driving aids defined = it is universally understood that shaker paddles and canes are considered driving aides. Sticks with a flag or bag on the end may also be used. All other objects including but not limited to gates, pipes, buckets, pitch forks, towels, knives, screwdrivers, pens and hoses are NOT accepted as driving aids.
*Moving with hip lifts defined = when a cow is transported any distance to another location within the pen or elsewhere in the facility with the hip lift serving as the sole support device. Hip lifts may be used to raise the cow from a laying position to facilitate the placement of a mat, sled or rope or to reposition the cow off the downside. This instructional video by DairyNZ demonstrates the proper way to use a hip lift.
- Dragging a live animal
- Intentional application of a prod or sticks to sensitive parts of the animal
- Deliberate slamming of gates on animals
- Hitting or kicking or maliciously driving animals over another*
- Repeated use of an electric prod on an individual animal
- Restraining a cow with nose tongs
- Moving cows with hip lifts*
- Spraying cows with water in the face with a hose
- Twisting a tail beyond 90 degrees or in such a way that the tail breaks
- Moving calves by dragging or by pulling their ears
*Hitting = when an arm (or any driving aid) swings back behind the frontal plane of the body and then forward, or is lifted above shoulder level and then down.
*Kicking = when the leg (or any driving aid) as swung back, behind the frontal plane of the body and then forward.
*Driving aids defined = it is universally understood that shaker paddles and canes are considered driving aides. Sticks with a flag or bag on the end may also be used. All other objects including but not limited to gates, pipes, buckets, pitch forks, towels, knives, screwdrivers, pens and hoses are NOT accepted as driving aids.
*Moving with hip lifts defined = when a cow is transported any distance to another location within the pen or elsewhere in the facility with the hip lift serving as the sole support device. Hip lifts may be used to raise the cow from a laying position to facilitate the placement of a mat, sled or rope or to reposition the cow off the downside. This instructional video by DairyNZ demonstrates the proper way to use a hip lift.
Neglect
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Withholding treatment to individual animals for broken limbs, dystocia, or prolapses
- Observing more than 10% of any age group with a severe condition (emaciation or severe lameness) without proof of treatment or remediation