Short Tail Docking in Lambs – What and Why

Short Tail Docking in Lambs – What and Why

As individuals who care deeply about livestock agriculture, it's essential to remain vigilant about practices that impact the lives of the animals for which we provide care. One such practice, which has raised significant concern in recent years, is the short tail docking of show lambs. While tail docking is commonly performed to prevent fly strike in wool sheep, the excessively short docking that is being seen in the show lamb industry has no practical benefit to the sheep or a real shepherd. This practice is condemned by most developed countries around the world. We will delve into the standards set in place in other strong sheep producing countries in a future Blog post.

Short tail docking involves the removal of a substantial portion of a lamb's tail, typically performed as high up the spinal cord as possible - taking main of the caudal vertebrae and damaging the spinal cord and nerves and muscles of the animal. When performed correctly, leaving the proper length of tail, it is a justified preventive measure used to limit fly strike in heavy wool breeds. A comprehensive review of the practice, “Tail docking in sheep (Ovis aries): A review on the arguments for and against the procedure, advantages/disadvantages, methods, and new evidence to revisit the topic” (Orihuela & Ungerfeld, 2019), sheds light on the issues surrounding this procedure and calls for a reevaluation of its necessity.

Orihuela and Ungerfeld (2019) emphasize that tail docking, especially when done without appropriate anesthesia, causes significant pain. Furthermore, they argue that the procedure can lead to infections, compromised immunity, and increased risk of rectal and vaginal prolapse. These researchers along with the vast majority of those who are invested in sheep husbandry are adamantly opposed to the practice of short tail docking for aesthetic purposes.

Veterinary organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP), have called for a ban of short tail docking which is only being done for cosmetic reasons to appease the whims of livestock judges.

As awareness of animal welfare continues to grow, more farmers, veterinarians, and organizations are beginning to take a stand against unnecessary procedures like short tail docking. The increasing availability of research, such as Orihuela and Ungerfeld’s review, is helping to drive this change by shedding light on the negative consequences of these practices.

It’s time to reconsider short tail docking as a routine procedure in the show sheep industry. By working together, we can ensure that lambs are raised in environments that prioritize their health and well-being. Through better farming practices, greater awareness, and collaboration across the sheep industry, we can foster a more ethical and compassionate future for these animals we depend on for meat and fiber. Our obligation as shepherds and sheep veterinarians is to make sure we are putting our best foot forward, so the public can continue to feel proud of supporting our lamb meat and wool industries.

References:

Orihuela, A., & Ungerfeld, R. (2019). Tail docking in sheep (Ovis aries): A review on the arguments for and against the procedure, advantages/disadvantages, methods, and new evidence to revisit the topic. Livestock Science, 230, 103837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103837