This ram’s tail is too short. It should be about 80mm longerDocking is in full swing and too many farmers are not heeding the MAF Sheep Welfare Code and are docking their lambs’ tails too short. The rule is simple to remember – “the dock should be able to wag”! Docking is done under considerable … Read more
By Dr Clive Dalton Docking lambs’ tailsRemoving lambs’ tails has been a standard part of sheep husbandry from early times, mainly to prevent the formation of soiled wool or ‘dags’ sticking to the wool of sheep eating lush pasture. Removing soiled wool or dagging has always been one of the least popular jobs on a … Read more
Castration, tail docking, age, methods, welfare issues By Dr Clive Dalton These procedures have been carried out for centuries, castration to reduce the number of males on the farm, and docking tails to avoid the growth of dags that attract blowflies. So the term “docking” for both these operations, done at the same time. Both … Read more