FRP minister no stranger goat shock – BergensAvisen

– I think it is very interesting with Norwegian development of new technologies that can provide better utilization of grazing resources, says Agriculture and Food Jon Georg Dale.

In June moved ten goats up to Fløyen to pasture, this to help the terrain does not heal again.

funicular AS wanted to use a so-called invisible fence called “NoFence” to prevent the goats run off and graze in areas where they should not feed, for example in the gardens of Kalfaret.

“NoFence” is electric collars that provide first sound, and then – if necessary – a shock, if the goat starts vase outside grazing area bounded by GPS technology.

– Our experience and testing shows that the animals spend very little time to learn this, said Gidske Andersen Bybeite to BA when we talked about the goats for the first time in June.

Overgrown pastures has been a growing national problem. The last fifty years have much cultural overgrown because fewer animals are out to pasture.

Threatened funicular with fines

But the FSA said no to the collar, and the 78 crews who would be involved in a nationwide pilot project had to stop.

At the same time threatened the funicular AS with fines of 1,000 kroner, which meant that they were fenced in with electrical fence in the traditional way.

This despite the fact that goats in question was accustomed to the necklaces.

The goats came straight from Storøya, where they had been involved in a research project on cultural landscape and grazing.

Responsible for goats Knut Krzywinski, associate professor of biology at the University of Bergen, said Bond magazine that “NoFence is the best thing that has happened in Norwegian agriculture since the tractor.”

– There are Fantastic! There are paving the way to reintroduce grazing in Norwegian outlying areas, said the biologist.

Food Safety Authority’s ban on the use of collars rely on veterinary institute, which believes that there is sufficient evidence that animal welfare is safeguarded.

Called on the carpet

Now called the FSA on the carpet to the Ministry of Agriculture.

– We ask for a detailed explanation of why the FSA believes that testing in the pilot project can not proceed as long as the FSA has not concluded on the issue of the collar is suitable from the viewpoint of animal welfare or not, stands in a recent letter from Jon Georg Dale ministry of Agriculture.

He further points out animal welfare is a high priority.

– Use of rangeland is positive both for animals and for livestock industry. It is important that the FSA facilitates that the new technology can be tried out in Norway and documented in terms of animal welfare, says Agriculture and Food Jon Georg Dale.