Animal Rights Group calls for Ban on Electro-Immobilisation Device

national | animal rights | other press Sunday November 12, 2006 15:54 by Alliance For Animal Rights afar_ireland at yahoo dot ie PO Box 4734, Dublin 1

ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR BAN ON ELECTRO-IMMOBILISATION DEVICE

Irish Times 10-11-06

Sean Mac Connell.

AGRICULTURE CORRESPONDENT.

The Alliance for Animal Rights has called for an immediate ban here on the use of an electro-immobilisation device which uses a rectal probe to immobilise animals.

Its spokeswoman , Bernie Wright ,has urged the Department of agriculture to investigate the legality of the device which was advertised in the current edition of the Irish Farmers Journal.

The advert sought agents to sell the e599 machine, which comes in a pack containing an aluminium rectal probe with a hardened plastic control unit.

However the man who placed the advert ,Clonakilty based dairy farmer Vivian Hayes said the device was legal and causes no stress to the animal.

It uses electro magnetic pulses to calm the central nervous system and send signals to the brain. It is a very animal welfare friendly machine.

He said the system used in the German made immobiliser was similar to that used by women during childbirth.this machine is not listed as being banned on the Department of Agriculture website and is perfectly legal.

I am a dairy farmer and I treat my animals well. IN FACT THIS MACHINE WILL PREVENT ANIMALS BEING BEATEN WHEN THEY ARE BEING TRAINED TO BE MILKED.

Mr Hayes said many farmers had responded to the advert, which said the device could be used in procedures such as branding,castration,debudding,(dehorning) and hoof trimming.

IT COULD ALSO BE USED TO TRAIN FRESHLY CALVED HEIFERS IN THE MILKING PARLOUR WITHOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS AND COULD ALSO BE USED IN THE FOSTERING OF SUCK CALVES.

However Ms Wright, said farming practises in Ireland are horriffic enough without allowing the sale of the rectal probe.

We will be investigating this matter fully and we want to warn any potential agents that we will find out their names and shop anyone selling these devices to the Revenue Commissioners.

Last April minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan announced she was banning electro-immobilisation on live farm animals from June 1st next.

end.