Game farmers and gamekeepers show support for rearing code of practice

Leading game farmers and game rearers have been voicing their support for the new code of practice for the welfare of gamebirds, drawn up by Defra and currently awaiting parliamentary approval.

Robert Crofts, chairman of the BASC gamekeepers’ advisory committee and BASC council member said: "As the Chairman of the gamekeepers’ advisory committee and a game rearer, I have taken time to read through the code in detail. I welcome it and believe that the code will present no problems for the majority of gamekeepers who already rear to high standards. It provides a sound foundation for the future defence of game rearing and game shooting in England."

Ivor Beavis, from Bridgemere game farm in Cheshire said: "Keeping pheasants in small cages is barbaric. It doesn’t allow them to express their natural habits and behaviour. Any advantage they give for disease management can be overcome by good animal husbandry – and that’s the most important thing."

Brian Pillow of Marcon Gamestock Ltd. in North Yorkshire said: "Basically this is just a code of practice. It looks quite open-ended. My personal feelings; I’m not averse to this industry being tightened up a bit. I’ve experimented with cages and thrown them out. I rear on grass with more than five square metres per pheasant."

Des Bersey of Cathacombe game farm in Cornwall said:" The code seems quite good. I’m dead against cages for pheasants. I’ve always disagreed with them. I rear in the old-fashioned way with around four square metres per pheasant on grass. It’s not only about the welfare, but about making sure the birds don’t become too domesticated."

Alan England, a partridge producer from Bintree game farm in Norfolk, said: "In general the document is a victory for commonsense which is a rare commodity these days. I believe that the vast number of keepers, who in the main are animal lovers, will already be doing all these things and more. To me a happy bird is a productive one; therefore good animal husbandry will always win".

Pat Robbins of Holme Park game hatcheries in Cambridgeshire said "There’s not much to quarrel with. No one can argue against improving the basic welfare of animals. There’s no way I would contemplate laying cages for pheasants. I’ve got 52 years experience, and it’s perfectly possible to make a living without them,"

Steve Bloomfield, BASC Midland Regional Director and a former head keeper said: "I have just sat and read through this code. I think BASC and particularly the gamekeepers’ advisory committee should be proud of this outcome. It is not easy to be a lone voice. We had to take the flack for standing up for what we believed was right. I came across many who agreed with us but did not have the gumption to back us in public and I am sure that as a result of our stance the future for game production in this country is considerably more secure. If, in the future, we face a call to ban all game rearing for sporting purposes this country and others that support this code, and those who helped shape it, will be in the best possible position to defend it."