The end to surgical artificial insemination “a load of crap”
Champion Victorian trainer Robert Britton has issued a stern rebuke to a report where the Australian Veterinary Association called for an end to surgical artificial insemination, labelling it “a load of crap”.
Britton – who is also a director with the Companions And Pets Party, which protects human rights to engage in lawful pursuits with animals – has extensive experience in breeding and rearing greyhounds.
And he says there is nothing wrong with current practices used in the industry which he has enjoyed plenty of success in over 26 years.
The report in The Guardian on January 16 quoted the Australian Veterinary Association declaring SAI “must not be performed in dogs”.
“It involves general anaesthesia of the animal, laparotomy (abdominal incision), exteriorisation of the uterus and transuterine wall introduction of (typically) frozen thawed semen into the uterine lumen,” the association's policy says.
The Guardian report then says the uterus is replaced into the abdomen, and the surgical incision sewn up.
The Australian Veterinary Association said this “previously accepted” way of impregnating dogs was invasive and caused unnecessary pain, while transcervical insemination (TCI), which uses a special instrument to put sperm directly into the uterus, was painless and safe.
But Britton – a strong advocate for the future of his industry in the face of relentless activism – has hit back at these claims in no uncertain terms.
“My theory on this is the vets and people pushing to ban this – is it all about invasion on the bitch?” he told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“To me it's just a load of crap. I don't see the issue.
“We've had a lot of dogs over the years who have been impregnated by the method we use now, and we haven't had any issues with it.
“The bitches haven't had any issues with it. I think it's more an animal rights stand.
“If there's a better method around, let's hear it.”
Britton said he had reservations on whether the alternative TCI method of breeding greyhounds would best serve his industry moving forward, particularly when there are many races run without full fields.
“I don't know whether the transcervical method is as effective,” he said.
“We've had a good success rate under the current method. We've had no issues with the bitches.
“So what's the problem?”
Also in the Guardian article on January 16, president of the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, Andrea Pollard, said greyhound racing had lost its social licence in Australia because of deaths, injuries and animal welfare issues including SAI.
Pollard said last year on Australian tracks, 213 dogs were killed and there were more than 10,195 injuries.
Britton said these figures were ridiculous and overexaggerated.
“They know nothing about it and they want us to reduce our breeding, which we know is just ridiculous,” he said.
“That's because we're struggling to fill fields now. And if this is a way of reducing our breeding by stealth, they'll do it.”
Britton said anti-greyhound racing activists thrive on using dramatic language to emphasise their collective argument in their desire to see the discipline permanently banned across Australia.
The veteran Lara-based conditioner said this is persuading many non-greyhound racing fans to believe their propaganda.
“Their choice of words, when you read their spiel on the banning of AI, it's dramatic and overexaggerated,” he said.
“The general community reads it and thinks it's a good thing when it's not even an issue at all.
“There's also a group of animal rights vets who support them all the way through.
“And they get quotes off those people. These animal rights vets ride their wave all the time.
“They go to them for quotes and make it sound like it's legitimate.”
Britton also did not shy away from voicing his strong frustration at the lack of support he believes state greyhound-racing governing bodies afford their participants.
He said if state bodies across the country remain silent and continue to do nothing against the anti-greyhound racing activists, the sport might not exist by the end of this decade.
A big concern for Britton is he feels his industry does not dispute the injury and death numbers that anti-greyhound racing activists often quote on the record.
This is causing massive damage to the sport that he and his greyhounds love.
“I get really disappointed with our industry that we don't come back on these things because we know they're not true,” he said.
“They say greyhounds get thousands and thousands of injuries, when in reality anything that's less than a 10-day injury is not really an injury.
“If it races next week it's not an injury.”
Britton said greyhound-racing governing bodies across Australia were setting themselves up for failure by not protecting themselves against the so-called facts which anti-racing activists use against them.
“We're counting this stuff (minor injuries). Why are we putting a target on our backs?” he said.
“It's just ridiculous. I've had many, many dogs race the following week who have copped a so-called injury.
“But it's not an injury. It can be soreness or an abrasion. It's no different to what a dog gets in the backyard.
“If you analyse the injuries, if we eliminated all 10-day or less (setbacks) that would halve the injuries straight away.”
Britton strongly feels that the only way greyhound racing can be sure of its future is if its regulatory bodies start fighting back against the activists right now.
“I get really disappointed. They basically say that because they're the regulator they can't comment on these things,” he said.
“That's a big copout. They say ‘we don't comment because it only flames the fires'.
“Well, those days are gone. They need to come up and protect our industry.
“We saw (two weeks ago) in the Herald Sun there were three articles – every one of them was exaggerated and false figures were put in.
“Yet there was no comment from our regulatory heads. I get very disappointed with it.”
Britton reminded Australia's greyhound regulators to actually deliver on their charters for the growth of their sport into the future against the constant threat of anti-racing activism.
“They should read their mission statements sometimes. They're here to protect the industry,” he said.
“The noise (from anti-racing activists) is just getting louder and louder. It's so frustrating when the industry doesn't respond to that.
“They're basically leaving it to people like us to do it.”
Meanwhile, Britton admitted the future of the Companions And Pets Party was under a cloud while the Daniel Andrews Government maintains control in Victoria.
“We've got to make some decisions which way we head because it appears that there's going to be a change in the Victorian electoral system,” he said.
“And that would eliminate parties like ourselves, and in a good thing even the Animal Justice Party won't get in.
“So in other words the preferences won't count as much, and it'll be more a first-past-the-post thing.”
Britton is worried the influence of the Greens – a left-wing political party which opposes horse and greyhound racing – will only get stronger in the next few years.
“If you work off the last election the Greens would get another three seats,” the legendary conditioner said.
“So the Greens would benefit greatly out of it. Most of these parties who worry us would migrate to the Greens.
“That's not a good thing, so we've got to decide whether we want to be a political party, or if we want to develop an activist-defence system.”
Dear Mr Britton – All death and injury figures quoted by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds come directly from official stewards’ reports published online.
This is why the industry bodies don’t argue because CPG figures are factual.
Here are the full records for last year – greyhoundcoalition.com/media-resource/2022-australian-track-deaths-and-injuries
Mr Britton needs to educate himself before making public comment on such matters. TCI is less invasive and typically more effective. Secondly, it has been banned overseas for many years. I could provide numerous citations etc but I’ll keep it simple.
Robbie – read this http://www.monashvet.com.au/frozen-thawed-semen.aspx
Secondly the AVA position is not specific – it applies to all canine breeds that use AI.
Thirdly opposing change to keep your costs down versus having welfare in the forefront of your mind is indeed archaic, resistant to change and runs counter to modern public expectation (social license).
Mr Britton needs to educate himself before making public comment on such matters. TCI is less invasive and typically more effective. Secondly, SAI has been banned overseas in several countries for many years. I could provide numerous citations etc but I’ll keep it simple. Robbie – read this https://www.monashvet.com.au/frozen-thawed-semen.aspx Secondly the AVA position is not greyhound industry specific – it applies to all canine breeds that use AI. Thirdly opposing change to keep your costs down versus having welfare in the forefront of your mind is indeed archaic, resistant to change and runs counter to modern public expectation (social license).… Read more »