Tail Docking in Sheep

Tail docking, or removing the lower part of the lamb's tail soon after birth, is a practice carried out primarily on wool sheep breeds. Docking prevents faecal matter from accumulating on the tail and hindquarters. Research has shown that tail docking greatly reduces fly strike (or Blow-fly strike, or Myiasis), whilst having no major effect on lamb mortality or production, if carried out correctly. Docking also makes it easier to shear the sheep.

Function of the Tail Why Dock the Tail Problems Caused by Tail Docking Methods

The sheep's tail has a purpose, and unless there is a good reason it should not be cut or amputated. It protects the sheep's anus, vulva, and udder from weather extremes. Sheep lift their tail when they defecate and use their tail, to partly scatter their faeces. Lambs wag their tails whilst suckling from the ewe, and this sends signals to the ewe.

Why Dock the Tail

Tail docking of lambs by commercial sheep producers is a standard management practice for wool sheep. It makes shearing easier, and helps prevent faecal and urinary contamination of the hindquarters. Fe cal contamination leads to fly strike, an infestation of maggots which is normally in the rectal area, although it can occur anywhere on the skin.

Because hair sheep lambs do not have long, wooly tails and/or wool on the underside of their tails, it is usually not necessary to dock their tails. Lambs from the Northern European Short-Tail breeds also do not require docking. The tail in the fat-rumped or fat-tailed sheep serves an important and vital function as fat storage and should not be docked. Some producers of wooled lambs do not dock their lambs or they only dock the ewe lambs.

For the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice, or Eid al-Adha, unblemished lambs should be sacrificed. An unblemished lamb is one that has not been docked, castrated, or had its horns removed.

If the tail is docked too short, it causes physical and health problems for the lamb. These problems include an increase in the occurrence of rectal prolapses, as well as faecal contamination of the hindquarters. This is because short-tail docking damages both the muscles and nerves used by the lamb's anus. Short tail docking may also contribute to the incidence of vaginal prolapses.

If the tail is left long enough to be raised, it lifts the supporting tissue around the anus and directs any diarrhoea away from the body. If the tail is amputated close to the body, any diarrhoea runs down the back end, soiling the skin and fleece - creating additional problems and greatly increases the dangers of fly strike instead of solving them.

The most humane method of tail docking is use of rubber rings on young lambs - preferably only 7 to 10 days old. (In the UK, it is illegal to dock after the first week).

The risk of infections like tetanus is reduced if the ewe has been fully vaccinated against clostridial diseases.

The alternative techniques (cutting with a hot blade or crushing to remove tails) are more painful and more likely to lead to problems like infections.

	Docking is not necessary in short-tailed sheep.
	Tail docking should never be considered in fat-tailed or fat-rumped sheep, where both the rump and tail serve as important fat storage organs.