Horse branding ban

13/08/2010

The hot branding of horses and ponies is to be banned in Scotland.

New regulations will be laid in the Scottish Parliament in September to remove the exemption which allows the hot branding of equine animals to take place.

At the moment hot branding can only be carried out where specific permission is given but no more authorisations are to be granted.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said:

"There is no place for hot branding in a country which prides itself on its high animal welfare credentials. This process is painful and involves burning and scarring sensitive tissue which can clearly cause animals unnecessary stress and pain.

"The main function of branding is to identify horses and ponies but the legal requirement to microchip all equines now means that it is no longer required.

"The belief that branding is unjustifiable is shared among the vast majority of veterinary and animal welfare organisations.

"The proposals will be taken forward in the next session of Parliament, marking a major step forward for equine health."

The proposal to ban this practice was widely supported by veterinary, equine and animal welfare organisations. A submission from the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) said:

"The BEVA believe that hot branding is a technique that is no longer justifiable on welfare grounds. The production of a hot brand requires the efficient destruction by burning of the superficial skin layers, leaving essentially a distinct scar. One of the problems with horses and ponies identified by hot brand is the great variation in the degree of this scarring.

The procedure is undoubtedly painful and reactions to branding vary from the apparently stoic to quite violent. This is based on the direct experience of BEVA Council members, a review of additional video evidence and reports from others."

Before changes can be made to the Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 it was necessary for Scottish Ministers to consult on the proposals. That consultation took place between December 23 and March 15, 2010.

The Scottish Government's proposal to prohibit the hot branding of horses and ponies was supported by the following organisations:

* Advocates for Animals
* Animal Aid
* Animal Concern Advice Line
* The British Equine Veterinary Association
* The British Horse Society
* The British Society for the Abolition of Cruel Methods of Identification of Equines
* The British Veterinary Association
* People 4 Ponies
* The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
* World Horse Welfare

Supportive statements:

The British Veterinary Association:

"The British Veterinary Association believes that the continued use of hot branding as a means of identifying certain breeds is unacceptable and should be banned on welfare grounds."

The British Horse Society:

"Although there has been little scientific research conducted into hot branding there can be little doubt that the application of hot irons to an animal causes pain. The BHS does not consider accurate identification to be a sufficient justification for causing pain. The BHS is opposed to the practise of hot branding and supports the Scottish Government's proposal."

Advocates for Animals:

"Hot branding of horses and other equines is an outmoded means of identification which causes unnecessary suffering and ought to be prohibited"

Scottish SPCA:

"The primary function of hot branding is to identify an equine animal, however, with the advent of, and a legal requirement to microchip all equines, hot branding is no longer required."

People4ponies:

"People4ponies believe that brands are an unreliable, unnecessary form of identification and that branding does not improve the welfare of ponies; in fact the handling, restraint and branding is detrimental to the overall welfare and future of the ponies."

Animal Aid:

"To remove the exemption to allow the hot branding of equine animals - would be a major step forward in equine welfare." - Animal Aid.