Tail Docking Of Lambs (Research vs Implementation)

University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service2006

The Contributors

Lead Author Hudson HillUWCES Mountain West Area Educator

Co-Author Steve Schafer, EdDUWCES State 4-H Office

Collaborators Eric PetersonUWCES Mountain West Area Educator

Dawn SanchezUWCES Uinta County 4-H

Tail Docking Background/Info

Please read the accompanying handout before continuing with the presentation, because it is believed this background and information will enhance the presentation by providing insight and additional details and procedures.

Of course, viewing this presentation without reading the handout is definitely acceptable. It is also believed much can be learned from this presentation without reading the handout.

This presentation does relate to the tail docking rule of the Wyoming State Fair, but the info is applicable to the docking of all lambs.

Tail Docking Questions

For questions or additional details concerning the tail docking of sheep for the Wyoming State Fair, please contact:

Wyoming State Fair

Wyoming State Veterinarian Office

Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service

2006 Tail Docking Rule“Every sheep that shows at the Wyoming State Fair must be accompanied by a certificate signed by a Wyoming Licensed Veterinarian which has a doctor/client relationship with the owner of the animal and which attests to the fact that the animal has a minimum three (3) full coccygeal vertebrae.”

The Challenges

Understanding the anatomy referenced in the rule (coccygeal vertebrae)

Understanding the location to dock

Finding that location

The skeleton

Coccygeal Vertebrae

Simplified pelvic area diagram

X-Rays and Docking

Palpate

Insert marker (needle)

X-ray

Note location

Identifying the Sacro-Coccygeal joint

X-ray of Tail

Sacro-coccygeal joint

Third

vertebrae

Second

vertebrae

First

vertebrae

This picture shows the needle in one joint distal from Sacro-Coccygeal joint

One vertebra to far to the distal end

Needle

(hard to see!)

Sacro-Coccygeal joint

This is one vertebrae to far forward

Tail docked one vertebra to far forward, leaving only two vertebrae

Needle in one joint proximal to the Sacro-coccygeal joint

Sacro-coccygeal joint

The needle is inserted in the joint between the sacral and coccygeal vertebra

The needle is inserted in the soft tissue at the sacral-coccygeal joint

Needle

The slide shows feeling for the sacral ridge/bump

Photographs of lambs being docked, leaving three Coccygeal vertebra (two slides)

Appearance of the tail after docking (two slides)

This lamb shows a tail where the caudal vertebrae are set further to the proximal side of the pin bones, making the tail look shorter but still having three coccygeal vertebrae.

Three coccygeal vertebra dock on a lamb with a little different tail structure. (two slides)

The following pictures are of lambs that were docked several weeks prior. These lambs are thought to have legal tail docks for the Wyoming State Fair. They were docked at the distal end of the caudal fold.

Docking seminar Douglas, WY

The following three slides are of three different fall born lambs that the State Vet. used at the docking seminar on January 18th. The 1st lamb has one caudal vertebrae the 2nd has two and the third has three. Only number three would be a legal lamb at the state fair in 2006.

Lamb with one caudal vertebrae

Lamb with two caudal vertebrae

Lamb with three caudal vertebrae

Three and five coccygeal vertebrae markedNotice the long caudal fold on white face lamb

Marked at 3

Marked at 5

Distal end, caudal fold

End of Caudal Fold marked by ribbon

Clive C Gay. Professor, DVM, Director, Field Disease Investigation UnitDepartment Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University

“However, several studies have shown that the ideal length for avoidance of these problems is docking at the third joint space (level with the tip of the vulva).” - emphasis added

Dr. Jan R. Busboom, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Meat Specialist

“The location that Clive (above) recommended (the third joint space, level with the tip of the vulva) would be similar to the other common recommendation that the tail be docked where the caudal tail folds meet.” - emphasis added

Suggested procedure

Train yourself to palpate the sacro-coccygeal joint.

Train yourself to palpate (and count) coccygeal vertebrae.

Mark and dock

For the inexperienced (or untrainable!), resort to visual identification and docking at the end of caudal fold, which yields a high probability of leaving 3 tail vertebrae.

Questions

Comments

Suggestions