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Written question asked by Matt Vickers (Conservative) on Monday, 15 May 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 May 2023. It was answered by Mark Spencer (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 May 2023 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Goats and Sheep: Electronic Training Aids

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of banning electronic collars for (a) sheep and (b) goats.

Answer

No such assessment has been made.

Defra did commission the independent Animal Welfare Committee to examine the welfare implications of using virtual fencing systems on livestock, where livestock are fitted with electronic collars as part of a system for containing, monitoring and moving livestock. The Committee’s report was published in October 2022: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awc-opinion-on-the-welfare-implications-of-using-virtual-fencing-for-livestock/opinion-on-the-welfare-implications-of-using-virtual-fencing-systems-to-contain-move-and-monitor-livestock#introduction. We are keeping the issue under review.

All livestock are protected by comprehensive and robust animal health and welfare legislation: the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence either to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for the welfare needs of the animal; and The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 set down detailed requirements on how farmed livestock should be kept.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
185167
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Goats Sheep Electronic training aids
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk