As most of you are aware it has become a law that farmers need to leave a stumpy bit behind when tailing now. This has been a “best practice guideline” for 4 years, the consultation was done in 2016. Many of the meat works report on it, and most Western European countries have decided it has to be this way…so (as usual) we end up following to keep the peace. The evidence of any meaningful or useful reason for this change is sketchy at best, but we will get used to it. Most tailing contractors have been compliant for a number of seasons now.

Minimum standard for tail length came into effect May 2021. $500 fines will be issued if 2021 born animals are non-compliant.

The tail MUST be no shorter than the distal end of the caudal fold. 1

Another way of stating it is:

No shorter than the third palpable joint

Or… The tail shall be docked with sufficient length to cover the vulva of a ewe, and the equivalent length in rams. 2

1 Beef and lamb Fact Sheet July 2020. minimum standards and best practice guidelines please refer to Animal Welfare (Painful Husbandry Procedures) Code of Welfare available from MPI Tel: 0800 008 333 or www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/animal-welfare/codes-of-welfare/

2 RWS Tail Docking Standard Operating Procedure. Publication Date: August 13, 2020