The simplest and most common method of tail docking is to apply a rubber ring (band) to the tail using an elastrator tool.
Castration and tail docking
Both these procedures are painful. Young lambs often have their tails docked to help keep their rear ends clean, which reduces the risk of fly strike.
Tail docking is performed in sheep to reduce the incidence of blowfly strike that may result from urine and faecal staining of the perineum. Castration is performed for management reasons and perceived meat quality benefits. If the intention is to slaughter lambs at an early age, castration may not be required.
The length of tail from the lamb's body to the ring position should be enough to cover the anus of a male lamb and the anus and vulva of a female lamb.
Lambs should be marked between the ages of two and 12 weeks, with the youngest animal in the mob being at least 24 hours old so that a maternal bond can form. If lambing extends for more than six weeks, consider having two mulesing/marking sessions.
There is also the risk of infection or other complications associated with this unnecessary surgery. Tail docking can also cause unnecessary and avoidable long term chronic pain and distress to the dog. For example, when a chronic neuroma forms at the amputation site. Neuromas are often very painful.
Lambs less than 30 days of age will need a liquid diet until about 60 days of age. They will start to nibble lamb ration pellets at about 30 days of age. Provide fresh drinking water at all times for the lamb in a clean bucket that the lamb can easily reach.
Removing tails from lambs at a young age is accepted practice in Australia because it reduces the incidence of flystrike.
The removal of their tails is one of many abuses that young sheep endure. No matter the method, tail-docking has been shown to cause pain in lambs. Removing (or "docking") lambs' tails is a painful procedure that's performed on very young animals, usually without anesthetic.
Also, tail docking causes a certain amount of pain to a lamb. For that reason, I docked tails during the first day or two of a lamb's life when it causes the least amount of pain. Lastly, tail docking has been linked to an increased risk of anal prolapse.
Farmers and shepherds usually dock the tails when they are lambs. Tail docking shortens the tail by cutting it or cutting off circulation so the tail falls off on its own.
Survey data indicate that preventive tail docking of pet dogs is unnecessary. Therefore tail docking of non-working dogs, even if their breed was originally developed for working purposes, is considered a cosmetic procedure unless evidence exists to the contrary.
Tail docking and mulesing are husbandry procedures of sheep to prevent flystrike. Tail docking may also be required to meet some market requirements. Reliance on mulesing to prevent flystrike can be lessened by a breeding program aimed at reducing breech wrinkle/cover.
These may include acute pain associated with the docking procedure, the possibility of chronic (long-term) pain in the tail stump, reduced ability of the cow to use its tail for communication and other normal functions, and altered ability of the cow to avoid flies.
Complications - As with any surgical procedure, there is potential for complications, such as excessive bleeding, infection, delayed healing and necrosis. Neuromas, which have been associated with chronic pain, may develop, but their incidence and persistence is not known.
A docked tail requires a clean, dry and urine-free environment to heal up faster. Generally, you are allowed to remove the bandages after about 2-3 days or as the veterinarian recommends. The vet uses only small and safe scissors to cut the bandages and put the tape away from the dog's tail tip.
The natural bobbed tail is a recessive gene within the Australian Shepherd dog breed genetic code. This genetic mutation curbs the tail, naturally creating a shortened tail that is only about one or two vertebrae in length.
It was concluded that tail wagging might have communication purposes between the lambs and their mothers while suckling.
In the year ended June 2022, around 6.2 million sheep were slaughtered in Australia.
A guide to NSW ban on tail docking of dogs
On 1 June 2004, it became an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (POCTA) to dock the tail of a dog in NSW.
As electrical stunning (for sheep) and percussion stunning (of cattle) doesn't injure the animal — stunning is part of acceptable ritual slaughter in Australia both for domestic consumption and export.
In an ideal scenario, it is best practice to let a ewe and her lambs out to grass when it is dry. Lambs that are let out to pasture in wet conditions are susceptible to becoming cold and hypothermic.
Cold, wet weather is especially problematic for small, newborn lambs that lose heat quickly. This can be fatal if they don't have enough energy reserves to burn to keep warm.
Lambs will begin to nibble on solid food soon after birth and will be fully eating grass by 4- 6 weeks old. Hard feed such as Sheep Nuts TM or Multifeed TM nuts can also be fed. Weaning can begin as early as 6 weeks of age but most lambs benefit from milk feeding up to 12-14 weeks of age.
Purpose. Historically, tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the animal's speed, and prevent injuries when ratting, fighting, and baiting. Tail docking is done in modern times either for prophylactic, therapeutic, cosmetic purposes, and/or to prevent injury.