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NVAS
> Accreditation
NVAS
Accreditation |
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The Course |
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The deer industry wishes to demonstrate its concern for the welfare
of its animals as well as a responsible attitude to the
administration of drugs for analgesia and anaesthesia.
This Accreditation Course is important to the industry in view of
international animal welfare trends and their possible implication
to world trade. It is also important as velveting involves the
use of Schedule 4 drugs (ie: potentially dangerous drugs), which by
law must be prescribed by a veterinarian.
Accreditation will mean that a farmer has an in-depth knowledge of
the procedure of velveting and its implications. Accreditation will
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encompass both the operator and the facilities.
The procedures for Accreditation are:
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Firstly:
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A self-assessment, which will be sent with each application form.
This will include guidelines for proper facilities and will
allow the farmer to assess his/her facilities and up-grade them
if necessary before being officially assessed. He/she will
be asked to nominate their veterinarian within a reasonable
distance to cope with supervision and dispensing of drugs,
problems associated with velveting and general deer medicine.
The nominated veterinarian will then be sent information
regarding the course and its contents.
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Secondly:
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A theoretical component that will be held followed by an
assessment which will be an open book style exam requiring a 75%
pass mark.
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Thirdly: |
The third step will be a practical assessment. The farmer
will need to demonstrate skills involving the complete |
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velveting
process. A pre-determined set of criteria will apply and a
minimum standard of ability will be necessary. The
assessment of facilities will occur at the same time. This
practical examination is assessed by the supervising
veterinarian.
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Once the applicant has passed the theoretical and practical
components, he/she will be issued with an Accreditation Number
allowing that person to remove velvet from his/her animals in the
approved facilities.
Velvet must be sold with its Accreditation Number and a statement to
the effect that the velvet has been removed under the National
Velvet Accreditation Scheme. Each stick of velvet will be
tagged with the operator's Accreditation Number.
The scheme will be regulated and controlled by the DIAA for the
industry. |
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Course Content |
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At the end of this Course, the participant will have covered the
following main content areas:
 Animal
welfare issues and legislation relating to velvet antler harvesting
Definitions
and requirements with respect to veterinary supervision and the
legal responsibilities of deer producers
and veterinarians
Stress
and pain and their effect during velveting and to be able to recognize
these factors and deal with them
The
basic and applied principles of anatomy and physiology involved in
velvet antler harvest
The
process of velveting
The
principles of healing and hygiene required to prevent infection
Alternatives
for deer restraint
Complications
of velveting
Hygiene
handling of velvet products
The
farmer-veterinarian relationship |
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Annual Reports |
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Each year all holders of an Operator Accredited Number will be
required to submit by 30 June a report stating: the number of deer
velveted, the method of velveting used, the species of deer, the
number of deaths within 48 hours of velveting, and details of drugs
received and used. All deer that die within 48 hours of
velveting must be submitted to necropsy by the nominated
veterinarian.
They will be required to do an update exam every 3 years as a
continuing education component. This assessment also requires
a 75% pass mark. When successfully completed, this will
automatically renew their Farmer Operator Accredited Number for a
further 3 years.
The accrediting veterinarian must undertake an Annual Supervising
visit to the farm at the start of each velveting season, to carry
out a check on the facilities, drug storage arrangements and the
farmer's practical skills in handling and velveting deer. The
veterinarian dispensing drugs for velveting must maintain a register
of all drugs so dispensed, and should take appropriate actions if
problems arise, including the deaths of deer or an undue level of
velvet damage (as reported by the Velvet Pool).
A farmer's accreditation may be suspended at any time by the DIAA
Velvet Accreditation Disciplinary Committee.
From the veterinarian's point of view, the emphasis throughout
should be on establishing a good level of communication and
cooperation with the client, with all charges for time or work
carried out by the veterinarian to be a matter of discussion between
them. This NVAS reflects both the stated needs of the deer
farming industry and the requirements of the AVA for the maintenance
of both the welfare of the animals concerned and the proper control
of the restricted drugs which are to be made available to accredited
farmers. If goodwill is retained by both parties the scheme
will continue to be successful. It will of course be subject to continuous
review by both the AVA and the DIAA, working in close cooperation.
Source:
Dr A W English
Camden 5 September 1995
NVAS Course Notes
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