The Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures by Lay Persons) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 No. 153

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 1 CATTLE

PART I Part I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to cattle

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Ear notching;

(2) Ear tagging;

(3) Freeze branding;

(4) Microchipping;

(5) Tattooing;

(6) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.—(1) Artificial insemination;

(2) Castration;

(3) Embryo collection or transfer by a non-surgical method;

(4) Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive;

(5) Ovum transplantation, including ovum collection by a non-surgical method.

Other management procedures

3.—(1) Dehorning;

(2) Disbudding;

(3) Nose ringing;

(4) Removal of supernumerary teats.

PART II Part II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Castration

4.  When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum, the procedure shall only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days or by any other means before the age of two months.

Embryo collection or transfer by a non-surgical method

5.  An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

6.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Ovum transplantation, including ovum collection by a non-surgical method

7.  An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Dehorning

8.  An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Disbudding

9.—(1) When the method used is chemical cauterisation, the procedure shall only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days.

(2) When any other method is used, such as heated iron, an anaesthetic shall be administered.

Removal of supernumerary teats

10.—(1) The procedure shall only be carried out on an animal that is aged not more than 3 months.

(2) An anaesthetic shall be administered.