The Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1990

Requirements for the welfare of livestock

3.  It shall be the duty of any person who keeps any livestock on agricultural land, or who knowingly causes or permits any livestock to be so kept, to ensure that–

(a) any person attending, or for the time being in charge of, the livestock (whether or not that person is the keeper) has access to a copy of any welfare code relating to the livestock;

(b) any person attending, or for the time being in charge of, the livestock (whether or not that person is the keeper) is, or is made, aware of the provisions of any welfare code relating to the livestock;

(c) any person who attends, or is for the time being in charge of, the livestock on behalf of the keeper has received instruction and guidance with regard to any welfare code relating to the livestock;

(d) where the livestock are housed adequate lighting (whether fixed or portable) is available to enable them to be thoroughly inspected at any time;

(e) the interior of any building (including the floor) to which the livestock have access is constructed and maintained so that there are no sharp edges or protrusions likely to cause injury or distress to the livestock;

(f) no inadequately constructed or insecure fittings are used for restraining the livestock;

(g) the livestock are fed a wholesome diet which is appropriate to their species and which is fed to them in sufficient quantity to maintain them in good health and to satisfy their nutritional needs;

(h) the livestock are provided with an adequate supply of fresh drinking water each day and have access to food each day, except where a veterinary surgeon acting in the exercise of his profession otherwise directs;

(i) where any of the livestock, other than poultry, are housed–

(i) they are kept on, or have access at all times to, a lying area which is well-drained or well maintained with dry bedding, and

(ii) suitable accommodation is available so as to enable any sick or injured livestock to be separated from other livestock and, when such accommoda tion is used by any sick or injured livestock, it has a suitably bedded floor;

(j) where any poultry (except laying hens kept in battery cages to which the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987(1) apply) are housed, they are kept on, or have access at all times to, well maintained litter or to a well-drained area for resting;

(k) where any lactating dairy cows or any cows which are calving are kept in any roofed accommodation they have access at all times to a well-drained and bedded lying area;

(l) (i) where any cows which are calving are housed, they are kept separate from any other livestock in a pen or a yard which is of such a size as to permit a person to attend the cows;

(ii) notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (l)(i) above cows which are calving may be housed with other cows which are calving;

(m) any calf which is more than 14 days old has access each day to dry food containing sufficient digestible fibre so as not to impair the development of its rumen, except that this requirement shall not apply in the case of a single calf kept in a pen or a stall to which the Welfare of Calves Regulations 1987(2) apply;

(n) any hutches or cages in which any rabbits are kept are–

(i) of sufficient size to allow the rabbits to move around and to feed and drink without difficulty and to enable all the rabbits kept in them to lie on their sides at the same time, and

(ii) of sufficient height to allow the rabbits to sit upright on all four feet without their ears touching the top of the hutch or cage;

(o) where any rabbits are kept in any accommodation which is exposed to the weather, suitable steps are taken so as to ensure that the rabbits have access to shelter from the action of the weather (including direct sunlight);

(p) no procedure involving electro-immobilisation is carried out on any livestock unless that procedure is duly authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986(3).

(1)

S.I. 1987/2020.

(2)

S.I. 1987/2021.

(3)

1986 c. 14.