MSP calls on Scottish Government to Ban Hot Branding in Scotland

MSP calls on Scottish Government to ban hot branding in Scotland.

Friday, 13 November 2009

Dr Bill Wilson, an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, today asked the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, to investigate the practice of hot branding for Scottish Exmoor Ponies. Replying to Dr Wilson’s questions in the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and the Environment Question Time, Lochhead acknowledged the ineffectiveness of hot branding, but he also stated that it is still allowed in certain limited circumstances. Dr Wilson said: “I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary accepted the basic principle that hot branding of ponies is painful, and that micro-chipping is more effective for identifying these animals. However, he said that in exceptional cases hot branding is being allowed: nine ‘semi-feral’ ponies on Wester Ross were branded in 2009. “I am now forwarding further evidence to the Cabinet Secretary, including a DVD, which I hope will convince him that hot branding is not only cruel, it is also ineffective and completely unnecessary. Even if a small number of ponies have been branded, the number of brands that are applied per individual pony is high. Often the iron needs to be reapplied to ensure the brand will be visible. However, the scarring of tissue is unpredictable and the marks are often impossible to read. “I am confident that the Cabinet Secretary will agree to investigate this matter using this new evidence. I believe that after doing so, he will come to the conclusion to outlaw hot branding once and for all.” Dr. Wilson added: “By the way, I have kept a copy of the DVD I passed to the Cabinet Secretary. I invite any journalist to arrange an appointment to watch it. It certainly demonstrates the cruelty of hot branding.”