Tail docking and castration of lambs and sheep
Review of an existing policy ratified 2002
Policy
Tail docking and castration of lambs under three months of age is acceptable provided that:
 the operations are performed by a skilled operator, using accepted industry
practices
 the tail is docked at the third palpable joint.
The castration and tail docking of sheep older than three months should be treated as a
major surgical procedure, using appropriate analgesia or anaesthesia.
Short tail docking is not supported because of the health and welfare problems that can
result from this practice.
Background
Tail docking is performed in sheep to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike that may result
from urine and faecal staining in undocked lambs and sheep.
Analgesia or anaesthesia are required during tail docking of sheep older than three months
because the level of pain and risk of postoperative complications are significantly increased
in these animals. There is also evidence that younger sheep are less stressed by a quick
incised wound than by restraint for anaesthesia and surgery.
Short tail docking, where the tail is docked shorter than the third palpable joint, is currently
practised in some breeds. This procedure can cause health and welfare problems, including
increased breech staining associated with fly strike and an increase in rectal prolapse in ram
lambs.1
Castration is performed for economic reasons, to increase meat quality and production. It
also eliminates the behavioural and management problems that occur when large numbers
of entire male sheep are kept together.
Other recommendations
Industry, with veterinary input, should establish an accreditation program to identify skilled
operators for performing surgical castration and tail docking of lambs less than 3 months of
age.
Reference
1. Thomas DL, Waldron DF, Lowe GD et al. Length of docked tail and the incidence of
rectal prolapse in lambs. Journal of Animal Science 2003;81:2725–2732.
Other relevant policies and position statements
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3.1 Surgical alteration to the natural state of animals