Welfare of Animals and Poultry at Markets Order (Northern Ireland) 1998

Control of animals and poultry

10.—(1) A person shall not use excessive force to control any animal or bird in a market.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) a person shall not use in a market—

(a) any instrument which is capable of inflicting an electric shock to control any animal or bird;

(b) any stick, crop, whip, goad or other instrument or thing to hit or prod any calf or horse; or

(c) any stick (other than a flat slap stick or a slap marker), non-electric goad or other instrument or thing to hit or prod any pig.

(3) The prohibition in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) shall not apply to the use of an instrument mentioned in that sub-paragraph, on the hind quarters of any bovine animal or pig over the age of 6 months which is refusing to move forward when there is space for it to do so provided that the shocks last no more than two seconds each.

(4) A person shall not—

(a) strike, or apply pressure to, the nose or genitals of any animal or crush, twist or break the tail of any animal or grasp the eyes of any animal;

(b) inflict a kick on any animal or bird; or

(c) drive, ride or lead any animal or bird over any ground or floor, the nature or condition of which is likely to cause the animal or bird to slip or fall.