Concerns have been raised about certain management practices used in the breeding and rearing of game birds. To give more comprehensive guidance about what the new ‘duty of care’ will entail with respect to game birds, we intend to produce a Code of Practice which will provide guidance on accommodation and management methods, including aggression reduction.
A working group of experts has been convened to discuss the contents of the Code. Members include representatives of the game bird related industry, welfare groups, and veterinarians.
In preparation for the introduction of a code, a Defra-commissioned study into the welfare implications of using bits and spectacles, is currently underway and is expected to be completed in November 2007. The results of the research will then be subject to peer review and will inform members of the working group tasked with writing the code.
We are aware that there are also concerns about the use of raised laying units for the breeding of game birds. Defra has asked the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) to assess this system of management and report back on its findings. It is anticipated that the report will be ready by the summer of 2008. It will inform the working group about this type of breeding system, and the extent to which any identified problems can be addressed through a code of practice.
It is expected that a draft code will be produced for public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny by the end of 2008, with the aim of bringing it into force in 2009.
Page last modified:
June 2, 2008
Page published: April 2nd, 2007