It is no longer permitted to castrate sheep or calves or dock their tails using an elastic band. New scientific research shows that this practice, even with pain relief, causes weeks of pain.
Castration or tail docking with an elastic band means that an elastic band constricts the body part, leading to gradual necrosis. This can take several days. Afterward, an open wound occurs. The healing process can take several weeks and is very painful for the animal, even when pain relief is administered. A more animal-friendly alternative is a surgical procedure performed by a veterinarian, such as surgical tail docking.
Preventive Tail Docking for 3 Sheep Breeds Until 2028
Preventive tail docking is already banned for most sheep breeds, except for the Suffolk, Hampshire Down, and Clun Forrest breeds. Until January 1, 2028, the tails of female animals (ewes) of these breeds may still be docked preventively. This procedure may now only be performed surgically. The exception for these sheep breeds is provided to allow for breeding with sheep that have shorter tails. Long, woolly tails can lead to myiasis when combined with contamination. Myiasis is a painful skin disease caused by the larvae of the blue-green blowfly. Sheep farmers can also reduce the risk of this disease with other preventive measures.
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