Don't force vet to dob you in

Does the farmer put the vet in an animal welfare conflict? Sometimes, yes. Given NZ's economic dependence on agriculture, and the growing attention to animal welfare here and overseas, it is unsurprising there has been concurrent development of animal-welfare law reports Rural News. Although education brings about change in some farmers' thinking, sadly some require enforcement through the courts. Lawyers and organisations like MAF Enforcement must ensure the interests of many are not compromised by the unlawful actions of a few. Increasing attention to animal welfare affects vets and farmers, particularly those struggling to prioritise or balance animal welfare with business interests, or attitudes based on outdated farm practices. Consider develvetting. The vet carries out the annual surgery on the sire stag for a client deer farmer, something done for the past 10 years. The vet knows the client is not approved to remove velvet from his animals yet has never enquired who does it. If it's not the usual attending vet or approved person, probably the farmer has develvetted the spikers; again, potential conflict. Like most people in business, vets also face dilemmas in prioritising loyalties and interests. Failure to appropriately prioritise animal welfare carries an increasing risk of detection and penalty. So wisdom and a simple sense of fair play dictate the farmer avoids putting their well-intentioned vet in a situation of conflict and at risk of legal accountability. Minimising the conflicts will safeguard the well-being of vet, animal and farmer.