WELFARE OF WORKING ANIMALS, PET & COMPANION ANIMALS

Working animals :Equids :Horse ,donkey, mule[cross between a male donkey and a female horse].Ruminants :Buffalo, cattle, Gayal/Mithun (Bos frontalis),yak, Camel(one humped-dromedary and two-humped Bactrian),Elephant, Dogs

Draught animals are subjected to : 1.Overwork/insufficient rest 2. Overloading and inadequate loading technique 3. Inadequate equipment 4. Working while in poor health or too young: for example, donkeys should not start to be used for work until they are aged four. Back deformities can result from working at too early an age. 5. Road accidents 6.Seasonality 7. Lack of health care 8. Poor nutrition:9.Most injuries are due to: • saddle/harness sores • beating injuries on hindquarters • lesions from tether/hobble • injuries from falling down/cart/accidents. •Infectious diseases can affect working animals, as well as livestock . Examples of these diseases are tetanus, rabies and leptospirosis.

The main issues of welfare concern for working water buffalo and cattle are 1: good feeding 2: good management3: good health 4: appropriate behaviour Broadly, there are four main areas that need to be tackled to improve the welfare of working animals. They are: • nutrition and health care • the design of harnesses, carts, etc. • education of owners, with incentives such as subsidies, and penalties • improved breeding.

In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires (a) "large bullock" or "large buffalo" respectively means a bullock or buffalo, the weight of which exceeds 350 kilograms ; (b) "medium bullock" or "medium buffalo" respectively means a bullock or buffalo, the weight of which exceeds 250 kilograms, but does not exceed 350 kilograms"small bullock" or (c) "small buffalo" respectively means a bullock or buffalo, the weight of which does not exceed 250 kilograms

General Conditions for use of draught and pack animals :No person shall use or cause to be used any animal for drawing any vehicle or carrying any load(i) for more than nine hours in a day in the aggregate. (i) for more than five hours

continuously without a break for rest for the animal (ii) in any area where the temperature exceeds 37'C (99'F) during the period between12.00 noon and 3.00 p.m.THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT, 1960 (59 of 1960) As amended by Central Act 26 of 1982. THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT, 1960 (59 OF 1960) As amended by Central Act 26 of 1982.Chapter VExemptions : Nothing contained in this Chapter shall apply to - (a) the training of animals for bonafide military or police purpose or the exhibition of any animals so trained; Feeding depends of type work and body weight of cattle

1. Normal – 2-4 hours2. Heavy - 8 hours (Ploughing, pulling loaded cart etc.)Maintenance –concentrate -1.5Kg.Body weight Normal work Heavy work300 Kg. 2 Kg. 2.5Kg.400 Kg. 2.5 Kg. 3 Kg.500 Kg 3 Kg. 3.5KgIn addition 25 Kg of green and 3 to 5 Kg of dry fodder should be given.

Buffalo bullock feedingFor light work (4h/d)Buffalo bullocks of 550 kg body weight should be fed as follows A.4 kg concentrate mixture + 7 kg straw or B. 1.5 kg concentrate mixture + 35 kg fodder or C. 20kg berseem + 8 kg straw + 0.5 kg deoiled ground nut cake

For heavy work (8h/d)Buffalo bullocks of 550 kg body weight should be fed as follows A.5 kg concentrate mixture + 8 kg straw or B. 3 kg concentrate mixture + 40 kg cereal fodder or C. 40 kg berseem + 7 kg straw

Draught animal management

The propagation of draught animal breeds of elite germplasm , which are very hardy and disease resistant and can thrive on less and coarser feed and fodder resulting in feeding and maintenance cost should be given priority in livestock policy. In Indian conditions draught animals are maintained on the poor quality

pasture ,straw and crop-residues. During the non-working season animals are maintained on a low maintenance diet, so animals become progressively week and can not perform well during working season. Strategic “work flushing” one month before the start

of the agriculture season would reduce the problem. Provision of balanced nutrition i.e. protein ,minerals and vitamins is of great importance for working cattle. Animals need extra salt to replace the loss in sweat. A calcium supplement such as di-calcium phosphate is also recommended to help bone development. Shoe the bullock properly before using them for work on hard ground. The hoof should be prepared first and shoe should made to fit the natural shape of hoof. Shoeing – road work – once in a month .Field work – once in two months. Hooves should be hard,

black and waxy the two halves should be even. The cleft of hoof should be narrow.

Well suited and fitted equipments are helpful to prevent injury. Both the animals of a pair should have similar body weight ,height and

temperament. Humane method of shoeing, nose-roping , balancing of weight in cart etc. are to be followed. During working season daily grooming helps to

rejuvenate the body of draught animals and removal of ectoparasites. Animals are inspected daily for wounds , skin infections , signs of harness –rubbing ,hooves –trimming etc. It should be borne in mind that vaccinations should be given at a time that work stress does not interfere with immune response. To avoid heat stress , bullocks should be allowed to work during the coolest times of the day i.e. early morning (from 6 to 10 am) and late afternoon (from 4 to 6 pm).Stress during cropping season results in increased susceptibility to various infections . So such bullocks may be put to work during non-cropping season for cart pulling to keep

them exercised and/or trained through the year.

Like all other animals ,draught animals suffer from common health problems of livestock. However, in addition

to common problems , they also suffer from specific health problems associated with such as yoke galls, back sores , horn injuries , loosening of patella , heat stroke etc. Heat stroke is very common for work animals. Oral rehydration drink by mixing two teaspoonful of salt ,half teaspoonful of baking soda and four teaspoonful of sugar or jaggery in one lt of water to be fed to adult animal @2-3lt- 2-3 times /day . Animals are to be taken under shed with proper ventilation facility.

Suggested work rest schedule :

Based on the studies conducted at Co-ordinated Research Programme on Increased Utilization of animal Energy with Enhanced System Efficiency ,Central Institute of Agricultural engineering ,Bhopal the following work rest schedule found to be better from output point of view.

Bullocks1 h work + 1 h rest + 2 h work + 1 h rest + 2 h work3 h work + 1 h rest + 3 h work4 h work + 2 h rest + 3 h work

Buffaloes4 h work in the morning + 3 h rest + 4 h work in the evening2 h work + 1 h rest + 2 h work + 1 h rest + 2 h work + 1 h rest + 2 h rest

In case of crossbred cattle, the bullocks have a greater stamina and capacity to work than indigenous cattle due to heavy body weight and hefty body size. Crossbred cattle have a faster growth rate and heavier than indigenous bullocks ; hence they can be put to work at maturity at the age of 2-3 years , earlier than that of indigenous cattle. the only drawback of crossbred bullocks is that they are less heat tolerant ,hence can not work from 11.00 to 4.00 pm , the hottest part of the day during summer.

OFFENCES AGAINST PET ANIMALS AND COMMUNITY DOGSThe term companion animals  refers to those animals, human beings keep for purposes of control, companionship, and comfort. The word pet, which suggests the indulgent use of animals , is being increasingly replaced by the term "companion animals." However, the term pet animal seems indispensable in conveying the relationship of intimacy between some humans and selected domesticated species.

Dt.26.02.2015

1.There is no law to prevent an owner of a pet to freely use the lift, lobby, apartment, garden, streets etc for exercising and keeping his pet. However, it may be advised to the owner to collect the droppings of the pet animal and dispose it responsibly. It may also be required of the owner to keep the pet sterilized and vaccinated.

2.There are many people in India who feed stray and ownerless animals. Some dispose off their leftover food in this manner, and others compassionately prepare food for them. Those who feed street dogs are advised to participate in their sterilization, and yearly vaccination too, since they win the trust of the dogs through feeding them. They are also advised to provide ,or to assist animal welfare organisation in providing health care to them.