The National Milk Producers Federation has confirmed that tail docking will not be permitted under the National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) as of January 1, 2017. The American Association of Bovine Practitioners has opposed the practice for 20 years and California banned it in 2009. Yet, some owners still engage in it.
The Journal of Dairy Science (JDS) has compiled a set of articles on the science of tail docking. Topics include pain, hygiene and biological responses.
Source: Dairy Herd Management, September 9, 2016.
The special collection of JDS articles regarding tail docking will be hosted by Elsivier and is available online at http:www.journalofdairyscience.org/taildocking.
More information is available in this article by Brandon Triechler, DVM, that appeared in the February 25, 2016 issue of Hoard’s Dairyman.
INSIGHTS: Also see, Nationwide tail docking ban coming soon, Animal Health Digest, June 18, 2016.