AN ELECTRA cattle dog trainer of more than 15 years has labelled calls from the Animal Health Australia (AHA) to muzzle cattle dogs as unfair and potentially dangerous to the dogs.

Barrie Hughes has a wealth of knowledge dealing with dogs used for the control of livestock and says the dogs have to be able to defend themselves if they have to.

The comments follow proposed new animal welfare standards by the AHA which also recommends sheep and cattle farmers keep the use of cattle dogs and electronic prods to a minimum, along with fines or even jail time for producers who use working dogs to inflict deliberate acts of cruelty.

The comments have been condemned by Member for Mount Isa Rob Katter, son of outspoken federal MP Bob Katter, who says the AHA is trying to kill off Australia's productive farming sector with its latest recommendations.
Mr Hughes agrees that the recommendations are untenable.

"Cattle farmers don't want their dogs biting but the dog has to have the confidence and be equipped to bite if a beast comes at them," Mr Hughes said.

"They have to be confident and with confidence comes control."

Mr Hughes said beef farmers were well aware that stressed and upset cattle resulted in lesser-quality meat and these days farmers had moved away from using the tradition Blue Heeler, which was known to bite at the heels of cattle, preferring to use herding type dogs such as Border Collies and Kelpies.

He also dismissed claims by the AHA that the use of dogs for work with cattle was decreasing.

"Anyone can see the benefit of using these types of dogs," he said.

"Dogs are ready to go anytime of the day, rain hail or shine.

"The work it would take three or four men to do can be done by one man and a couple of dogs."

Mr Hughes said calves were taught right from the start to respect dogs which meant the dogs rarely had to bite in order to quietly control the cattle.

While Mr Katter said he was astounded at the statements that were coming from animal welfare bodies at the moment and the latest one was just "madness".

"They're proposing muzzling cattle dogs, which is absurd," he said.

"Farmers know how to manage their dogs; cattle that have been handled roughly or stressed in the yards don't produce the best meat and farmers know that."

Mr Katter said farmers were concerned for the welfare of their animals, both their working dogs and their sheep and cattle.

"Bodies like the AHA and PETA are killing Australians' right to earn a living," he said.