Docking improves the health and welfare of sheep and lambs. It prevents
fecal matter from accumulating on the tail and hindquarters of the
animal. Research has shown that tail docking greatly reduces fly strike
(wool maggots), while having no ill effect on lamb mortality or
production.
The easiest and most common method of tail docking is to apply a rubber
ring (or band) to the tail using an elastrator tool. Banding is a
bloodless method of tail docking. The band cuts off the blood supply to
the tail, causing the tail to fall off in 7 to 10 days.
