AWBI Chairman R M Kharb has written to VCI, saying the "crude" method of restraint and castration in many veterinary polyclinics and hospitals was often performed on the animal by casting it on the ground and then using a Burdizzo castrator to crush the spermatic cord.
"This crude method carried without the use of sedatives or anaesthetics causes the animal to experience immense pain, fear and stress, which amounts to cruelty as per Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960," he said in the letter.
This, therefore, is a "punishable offence."
Stressing the need to use sedatives on the animals, he said they reduce or even eliminate fear and pain during castration and options include short-acting local anaesthetics to longer-acting pain-relief drugs.
All states' Veterinary Councils and Directors and State Animal Husbandry should be advised to direct government veterinary hospitals to ensure castrations are performed under sedation, he said.
The Animal Husbandry departments of all state governments should also be advised to delineate a standard operating procedure for field castrations in large animals and to create inventories of drugs and equipment for this purpose, Kharb said.
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Failure of following the standard operating procedure should call for strict action under the PCA Act 1960, he added.
Meanwhile, Manilal Valliyate, India Director of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), welcomed the move saying it will benefit both the bulls and the cattle-owners.