Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has today released the Code of Practice for Breeding, Rearing and Education (the Code) to support new changes to the GRNSW Greyhound Racing Rules relating to breeding that will come into effect on 1 July 2015.
From 1 July 2015, all breeders will be required to hold a breeder’s licence with GRNSW. In order to receive a breeder’s licence, applicants will have their breeding premises inspected by GRNSW Compliance Officers in accordance with the Code.
The Code provides an overarching framework for breeders, rearers and educators and specifies the minimum standards of accommodation, management and care to uphold the welfare of all greyhounds located at breeding establishments. These minimum standards cover a range of areas including health and veterinary care, nutrition and greyhound housing size.
Code%20of%20Practice%20for%20Breeding%20Rearing%20and%20Education.pdf">Click here to download the Code.
Applicants will also be required to successfully complete the Breeder’s Education Pack prior to a breeder’s licence being issued. The Breeder’s Education Pack is an introductory guide to breeding and covers key areas such as ‘Getting Started’, ‘The Pregnancy’, ‘Whelping the Litter’ and ‘Raising the Litter’. At the end of the Education Pack, there is a short questionnaire that applicants must successfully complete.
Click here to download the Pack and Questionnaire.
Other changes to the Rules commencing on 1 July 2015 breeders need to be aware of are:
- Requiring all dams in NSW to be registered with GRNSW as a breeding female;
- Requiring persons to seek approval from GRNSW to breed dams over the age of eight and obtain veterinary certification of appropriate health for that dam;
-Requiring persons to seek approval from GRNSW to breed a fourth litter or more and obtain veterinary certification of appropriate health;
- Limiting the frequency of litters for an individual dam to two litters in any 18 month period
-Compulsory vaccination of puppies with a C3 vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age, and a C5 vaccination at 10-16 weeks of age.
To further assist participants in gaining a better understanding of the breeding changes due to come into effect on 1 July 2015, GRNSW has also created a new ‘Breeding’ section on its website - www.thedogs.com.au.
The Breeding section on www.thedogs.com.au contains a range of fact sheets providing simple information on each major rule change and exactly what participants need to do to comply with the changes.
There are also a number of forms, including an application to become a licensed breeder, as well as forms to seek permission for breeding females to breed more than three litters or when they are aged over eight years of age.
Also listed is information on vaccination rule changes and what requirements need to be met for all greyhounds throughout their early stages of life.
The Breeding section will continually be updated over the coming weeks so participants are encouraged to check it on a regular basis so they can stay informed.
For more information on the Code of Practice for Breeding, Rearing and Education or the changes to breeding rules, contact GRNSW Member Services via email or on (02) 8767 0500.
