Reminder over tail docking

With lambing season now in full swing, sheep farmers have been reminded of the rules around tail docking.

Under animal welfare regulations, farmers are allowed to reduce the length of a lamb's tail to prevent soiling of the fleece.

During summer, flies can be attracted to faecal matter to lay their eggs and the resultant maggots eat into skin and flesh causing significant pain and distress. This painful condition is known as fly strike and tail docking can reduce the potential problem.

But NFU Scotland policy manager Penny Johnston said farmers should remember the specific details of the welfare rules regarding tail lengths, and reminded them that tails shorter than these lengths will be considered to have been have been docked too short and enforcement action could be taken.

Johnston said: "Every year inspectors reprimand a minority of sheep producers for failing to comply with the standards for docking lambs' tails and making the tail too short. Some of these compliance failures are picked up during farm inspections but the majority of cases tend to be discovered at summer shows."

She added: "We have approached the enforcement agency, Animal Health, and asked for proportionality."