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Pheasants: Animal Welfare

Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UIN 28747, tabled on 26 February 2016

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce measures to (a) improve the welfare of pheasants reared in the UK and (b) reduce the number of such pheasants that are reared in cages.

Answered on

1 March 2016

The welfare of pheasants reared for sporting purposes is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. A Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes, made under the 2006 Act, provides keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their birds, as required under the 2006 Act. The code can be used as evidence in court in support of a prosecution for poor welfare. A review of the code is due to commence later this year. At this stage there are no plans to reduce the number of pheasants that are reared in cages.