Animal Welfare Policy

Purpose

General Regulation 28:
“An Exhibitor or Attendant of an animate Exhibit must use all reasonable steps to ensure that the Exhibit is housed and cared for in accordance with the Animal Welfare Policy.”

Animal Welfare is a responsibility that encompasses all aspects of animal wellbeing. This includes, but is not limited to:

• proper housing,
• management,
• nutrition,
• humane handling, and
• Veterinary treatment.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) recognises that animals are used for human purposes, such as food, fibre, companionship, recreation, and research conducted for the benefit of both humans and animals.

Policy

Welfare Statement

• All animals must be afforded basic comforts of feed, water, and shelter.
• No animal should be worked to exhaustion.
• Relief from suffering must be promptly administered.
• No animal should compete under the influence of a drug or drugs modifying its performance or masking a harmful disorder.

Exhibitor Obligations

Exhibitors and persons in charge of an animal must ensure their animal is in good health. They are responsible for monitoring their animal for the duration of their time on the Showground.

Nutrition and Hygiene

Each animal should be provided with appropriate amounts of feed and water by their owners (except in the case of Poultry in which the RAS will provide feed and water) including:

• Fresh, uncontaminated water (available from designated drinking water taps).
• Presentation of food and water in suitably clean utensils and equipment.
• Waste feed material disposed of appropriately.

Transport

The Exhibitor is responsible for transporting the animal to and from the Showground. Transport includes the period immediately before loading including any waiting periods, loading, transit, rest periods, and unloading at the point of destination. No animal should be transported unnecessarily and transport that is required should be carried out in a way that minimises stress, pain, and suffering.

Veterinary Welfare

The Mission of the RAS Official Veterinary Panel is to:

1. Promote the health, well-being, and welfare of all animals competing and residing on the Showground.
2. Assist animal committees in the conduct of fair and even competition by reporting on matters of health and fitness, and by executing a drug testing program.
3. Regular veterinary inspection of suspect animals on the Showground.
4. Provide a veterinary treatment service for injuries and illnesses occurring during the show and advise on fitness to compete.
5. Advise and act on infectious disease control.
6. Advise on accident prevention.

To this end, the RAS will provide:

1. Facilities for the inspection, restraint, and treatment (where appropriate), of any animal.
2. Isolation facilities for suspected infectious or contagious diseases.
3. RAS Veterinarians to euthanize animals and assist in the disposal of carcases.

Internal References (optional)

• Biosecurity Management Procedures
• Animal Welfare Operation Procedures at the Easter Show

External/Industry References (optional)

• Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW)
  https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2015-024
• List of NSW Notifiable Diseases
  https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/animal/notifiable-animal-diseases-nsw

List of Abbreviations and Website Links