Austria bans 'senseless' killing of chicks with new animal welfare rules
The Federal Government announced a new legislative package with stricter rules for animal welfare, banning the "senseless" killing of chicks, tighter rules for live animal transport and installing other protection measures.
Austria's Federal Government has put together a new set of rules for stricter animal welfare in the country, most notably banning the practice of mass killing and disposal of male newborn chicks.
"This package of measures is a great success for animal welfare, which finally implements years of demands of animal rights activists," explains Animal Welfare Minister Johannes Rauch in a press conference detailing the measures.
Rauch announced the end of the "senseless" killing of chicks. Instead, the minister explained that the animals would be culled and used as feed in zoos, saying there is a great demand and zoos have been importing meat for their animals.
READ ALSO: Penguin rescued after being ‘kidnapped’ from Salzburg zoo
In the future, Austria will carry out "gender determinations" of the animals before they hatch to take "appropriate measures earlier".
Rauch added that the "shredding" of chicks, a controversial culling measure, did not take place in Austria even before the new steps.
Measures for cow and pig welfare
The present animal welfare package will end the uninterrupted, year-round tying of cattle from 2030.
For pigs, there will be an "incentive" to offer more space for the animals, with new and converted stables and cooling planned. Rauch said that the measures were a compromise and first step but that "we are not yet where we want to go".
READ ALSO: Austria to ban online ads offering pets for sale
The package also imposes new rules for live animal transport, including shorter transport times and a ban on transporting newborns.
Most of the provisions will come into force from 2023, the minister added. The package will be officially voted in Parliament at the end of June.
"Unacceptable": Criticism from animal protection groups and opposition
Animal protection groups in Austria have criticised the federal government's plan as unacceptable and a "weak compromise".
Durch Schönfärberei von @AMAGesmbH u Landwirtschaftsministerium werden die Konsumierenden getäuscht und finanzieren so unwissend ein Haltungssystem, das sie eigentlich nicht haben möchten.
Deshalb fordern wir ein Verbot von Vollspaltenböden https://t.co/1bdfK0GguH !B pic.twitter.com/opct74nqSU
— VGT - VEREIN GEGEN TIERFABRIKEN (@vgt_at) April 12, 2022
Pigs and cattle for fattening will still stand on full-coated soils, tail cropping and anaesthetic castration will continue to be common practice in piglets, and animals will be transported far too young and far too long, the Vier Pfoten group pointed out in a statement.
READ ALSO: Why Vienna is a haven for wild animals – and where you can find them
"There was not even a serious attempt to put an end to this cruelty to animals", the group's director Eva Rosenberg said.
Opposition SPÖ has also criticised the government plans, calling it "a mess", according to Vienna Animal Welfare spokesperson Eva Persy. The NEOS parliamentary groups said the measures were "pure cosmetics", and the proposals do not go far enough.
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Austria's Federal Government has put together a new set of rules for stricter animal welfare in the country, most notably banning the practice of mass killing and disposal of male newborn chicks.
"This package of measures is a great success for animal welfare, which finally implements years of demands of animal rights activists," explains Animal Welfare Minister Johannes Rauch in a press conference detailing the measures.
Rauch announced the end of the "senseless" killing of chicks. Instead, the minister explained that the animals would be culled and used as feed in zoos, saying there is a great demand and zoos have been importing meat for their animals.
READ ALSO: Penguin rescued after being ‘kidnapped’ from Salzburg zoo
In the future, Austria will carry out "gender determinations" of the animals before they hatch to take "appropriate measures earlier".
Rauch added that the "shredding" of chicks, a controversial culling measure, did not take place in Austria even before the new steps.
Measures for cow and pig welfare
The present animal welfare package will end the uninterrupted, year-round tying of cattle from 2030.
For pigs, there will be an "incentive" to offer more space for the animals, with new and converted stables and cooling planned. Rauch said that the measures were a compromise and first step but that "we are not yet where we want to go".
READ ALSO: Austria to ban online ads offering pets for sale
The package also imposes new rules for live animal transport, including shorter transport times and a ban on transporting newborns.
Most of the provisions will come into force from 2023, the minister added. The package will be officially voted in Parliament at the end of June.
"Unacceptable": Criticism from animal protection groups and opposition
Animal protection groups in Austria have criticised the federal government's plan as unacceptable and a "weak compromise".
Durch Schönfärberei von @AMAGesmbH u Landwirtschaftsministerium werden die Konsumierenden getäuscht und finanzieren so unwissend ein Haltungssystem, das sie eigentlich nicht haben möchten.
— VGT - VEREIN GEGEN TIERFABRIKEN (@vgt_at) April 12, 2022
Deshalb fordern wir ein Verbot von Vollspaltenböden https://t.co/1bdfK0GguH !B pic.twitter.com/opct74nqSU
Pigs and cattle for fattening will still stand on full-coated soils, tail cropping and anaesthetic castration will continue to be common practice in piglets, and animals will be transported far too young and far too long, the Vier Pfoten group pointed out in a statement.
READ ALSO: Why Vienna is a haven for wild animals – and where you can find them
"There was not even a serious attempt to put an end to this cruelty to animals", the group's director Eva Rosenberg said.
Opposition SPÖ has also criticised the government plans, calling it "a mess", according to Vienna Animal Welfare spokesperson Eva Persy. The NEOS parliamentary groups said the measures were "pure cosmetics", and the proposals do not go far enough.
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