The Association, rabbit control and myxomatosis

Abstract

Extract

Animal welfare is one of the goals if not the main goal of the veterinary profession. Thus the control of rabbits in New Zealand by the purposeful introduction of myxomatosis, a disease that produces severe lesions that last for eight days or longer in affected rabbits, must be considered by the profession from an animal welfare point of view. Before we can agree with the use of myxomatosis, we need to be sure that the rabbit problem is sufficiently severe and intractable to warrant such an introduction, and that the use of myxomatosis will effectively and continually control the population, bearing in mind that once introduced it will spread throughout the country and will always be present in some degree.