The Central Government has recently introduced new standards for the dehorning and castration of cattle, as well as other related tasks. These procedures have been developed to improve animal welfare and are expected to be enforced under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. This article aims to clarify these new rules, explore the processes involved, and look at some related provisions.
Understanding Dehorning and Castration
Dehorning and castration are two common procedures carried out on cattle. Dehorning involves removing or reducing a cattle’s horns, which is done to increase safety for both the handlers and other animals. It can also help to reduce aggression and injuries, while also enhancing the quality of meat. The dehorning process can be carried out using various methods including chemicals, electricity, saws, or dehorning irons.
On the other hand, castration refers to the removal of testicles from male cattle. This is typically carried out on those male cattle that are not intended for breeding, with the aim of decreasing aggression and again, improving meat quality. It involves crushing the blood vessels, nerves and vas deferens — a coiled tube responsible for carrying sperm out of the testicles, essentially resulting in the testicles becoming nonfunctional.
New Rules on the Horizon
The central government’s newly introduced procedures require all dehorning and castration activities to be carried out with the assistance of a registered veterinary practitioner. Moreover, the use of general and local anaesthetics is mandatory, intended to minimize pain and discomfort for the animals.
An encouragement for the breeding of naturally hornless cattle has also been emphasized, as well as the recommendation for using face halters and other humane procedures for nose roping. Also, cold and hot branding on live tissues have been strongly discouraged by the new rules which also prescribe a methodology for euthanasia for sick animals to avoid them suffering an agonizing death.
Existing Provisions: A Closer Look
Before the introduction of these new rules, dehorning and castration procedures were not clearly defined in sections 11 and subsection 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. This made it difficult to ensure protection against animal cruelty.
Section 11 of the Act outlined actions that constituted cruel treatment of animals, but subsection 3 allowed exceptions for animal husbandry procedures such as dehorning, castration, branding, and nose roping of animals. Additionally, Section 3(c) of the Act provided exceptions for the extermination or destruction of animals under any existing law.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
The core purpose of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is to prevent unnecessary pain or suffering inflicted on animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India was established under section 4 of this Act in 1962.
The Act provides guidelines related to experiments on animals for scientific purposes, discusses different forms of animal cruelty and their exceptions, and provisions relating to the exhibition of performing animals, among others. It also outlines punishment for those causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to animals and discusses the killing of a suffering animal if any form of cruelty has been committed against it to alleviate its suffering.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
A past question from the UPSC Civil Services Examination asked candidates to consider the following statements:
1. The Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Only the second and third statements were found to be correct. The Animal Welfare Board of India was actually established under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.