Compulsory Training

[Jac]

Over recent years there has been government intervention with regard to animal welfare like the City and Guilds 'Transport of Animals (short journeys) and though I have always been against this sort of interference I am beginning to think that there is a need for a qualification before people are allowed to have a holding number to keep livestock.

[Louisa Gidney]

Why? Anybody can have a baby with no training whatsoever and babies are far more vulnerable.

[Jac]

Yes, babies are more vulnerable but there is more supervision for humans and the parent's mind is focused on the penalties for death by neglect. Kill a calf and it 'just died' try explaining away the death of a baby.

[Rob R]

On the one hand I see what you mean, but on the other I think of the whole rules around running a food business and the number of people who seem to get away with it, so I tend to think it'd be a case of the compliant complying and those who really need it just not bothering.

Strictly speaking everyone should already have their vet med certificates and teleporter tickets, but there just isn't the resources to police it as it is. And I dread to think how many pesticides are dowsed around in 'domestic' gardens.

With regards to the trailer test, it's only a few hundred quid (for those of us who passed after 1997), but it's just another cost that is so hard to justify. Not one of these things on their own is enough to kill an industry, but the combination of everything is literally doing so. It would all be fine if the returns were anything like half decent but you can't have it both ways. They keep trying to 'encourage' young people into the industry without ever addressing the huge herd of elephants in the room.

[SteveM]

Teleporter licence, would need to get a teleporter first. Got to admit would make live a lot easier.

[Jac]

On the one hand I see what you mean, but on the other I think of the whole rules around running a food business and the number of people who seem to get away with it, so I tend to think it'd be a case of the compliant complying and those who really need it just not bothering.

I don't know how they would 'get away with it' because you need a holding number to register with the BCMS. I can't think there can be that many doing 'illicit beef' with home killed cattle or maybe there is..........

Would the need to go on a course help or hinder the selling of Dexters?

[Rob R]

On the one hand I see what you mean, but on the other I think of the whole rules around running a food business and the number of people who seem to get away with it, so I tend to think it'd be a case of the compliant complying and those who really need it just not bothering.

I don't know how they would 'get away with it' because you need a holding number to register with the BCMS. I can't think there can be that many doing 'illicit beef' with home killed cattle or maybe there is..........

Would the need to go on a course help or hinder the selling of Dexters?

I was thinking more of those who don't register as a food business, rather than home killing.

I suspect if they did bring it in [compulsory training] then it'd be a silly multiple choice that didn't require much knowledge, but would be necessary for everyone to do, for a fee, whatever you're previous qualifications, and not actually teach you anything, just a money making scheme. A bit like the trailer test - some people who have done it still can't drive a trailer.

[Rob R]

Teleporter licence, would need to get a teleporter first. Got to admit would make live a lot easier.

We can dream.