Tail Shortening of Cattle

Policy

NZVA is opposed to the shortening of cattle tails except for veterinary medical reasons.

Explanation

The Animal Welfare (Painful Husbandry Procedures) Code of Welfare 2005 limits tail shortening in cattle to the last two or three vertebrae of the tail. The NZVA policy on bovine tail shortening of cattle is in line with its policy (B1.3.1) that opposes surgical alterations to the natural state of animals unless they are demonstrably necessary for the welfare of the animals concerned.

The practice of docking the tails of dairy cows was originally adopted to reduce contamination of both milking staff and cow udders. However, subsequent studies (commissioned by MAF Policy, 1995) found that leptospirosis and mastitis levels were no different in docked and undocked cows. The 2005 code has allowed switch removal “to improve comfort for milking personnel and enhance milking efficiency”, but recommends that alternative solutions are tried first. The NZVA is of the opinion that non-surgical alternatives are available in the form of regular cleaning and trimming of the hair in those few cows where this is a problem. In a cost-benefit analysis, this is preferable both to the pain of the initial operation and to the permanent deprivation of the full ability of cows to remove flies with their tails.

The NZVA is aware – and fully supportive – of stated policies from within the dairy industry that aim to halt the docking of cows’ tails within the next few years.

Reference

Animal Welfare (Painful Husbandry Procedures) Code 2005, Code of Welfare No 7

National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, C/- MAF

Policy Files: 

5g - Tail Shortening of Cattle - 18Aug06.pdf