I have a 2 week old orphaned ewe lamb. I know most people dock their sheep's tails because of fly strike, but I thought maybe it would not be necessary to do so on this little gal, since I have just the one and will be able to observe her closely for any signs of trouble. However, I just spoke with a sheep guy who has given me good advice in the past, and he says it is absolutely, positively necessary. He made it sound like an un-docked tail almost guaranteed a maggot problem. So, she's scheduled to have it done tomorrow night. Anyone care to share any last minute thoughts on the topic?

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), May 10, 2000

Answers

Shannon, We do not dock tails on the ewes we keep. Have had no problems yet but this is only the second year. If you look at the old English Masters paintings docking you will see that docking tails is a rather recent practice. Good luck whatever you choose. Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), May 10, 2000.

Shannon, my Dad always raised sheep! Can't remember ever being a time when I grew up that we didn't have sheep! I asked my Dad why we had to dock their tails? His reply to me was, that they brought more at market if their tails were docked! I raised an orphaned baby to be a mother ewe--never docked her tail! Don't remember haveing any problems at all! But of coarse I was a kid! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), May 10, 2000.

Shannon, the pros of docking-reduce or eliminate fly problems, possibly avoid breeding problems, may reduce the amount of waste wool on the butt. Cons, chance of infection, problems if docked too short, stress to the animal.

You can try leaving her undocked. The big catch is what if you sell her, or can't keep as close a watch on her as you can now, or you do have fly problems. If flies are a problem, are you willing to spray? If you want to spin her wool, do you want to either pitch a big portion of the (sprayed) fleece, or are you willing to work with it? And if flies become a problem, docking her later will be more complicated and expensive, and a great deal more stressful on her.

I don't know what to tell you, I raise a breed that doesn't need to be docked, so it isn't a problem I've had to face. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 10, 2000.

Have to agree with Sonda's Dad. And though you love this gal right now, farm stock rarely has a forever home. When you need or want to resale you will be limiting your possiblities because of the tail. A tiny procedure with vaccination now, would be downright gruesome when she is older. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 11, 2000.

Shannon, it's a small procedure. It is set to prevent the sheep being partly eaten alive by maggots. That can start even with the utmost watchfulness. Not at all pleasant to see, to clean up, or I imagine for the animal to suffer through. In Australia there is no place where we can routinely chance this, because flies are so bad; and if tailed woolly sheep got fly-struck we would rightfully be liable to prosecution by the RSPCA (that's "R" for royal). Different with hairy sheep. May be different where you are, but unless you're sure I personally wouldn't chance giving sanctuary to maggots on/in my sheep.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 11, 2000.

Hello,

Docking can be a good thing,, exspecially where you have flys. But I also don`t believe in taking ALL the tail off up to their back bone. On the ewe lambs I leave enough tail to be about to cover their back side. The reason for this is to keep them from Having a prolapse,( which is a Big problem with ewes with all their tail removed to their back bone)And To be able to swat those nasty gnats,deer flys and mosiktoes (spelt wrong sorry) off their tender back sides. With this length of tail we have never had, as of yet, gotten fly strike on any of our sheep. They are checked about 4 times a day.

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), May 11, 2000.

I've never the heard the fly strike reason for docking. we have a ewe whose tail was never docked (she was her former owners "baby") and she's fine. If You even think you might want to sell her you do need it docked. I've been told that in Scotland they traditionally never dock tails. and we don't bother with our ram lambs that we know we are putting in our own frezer.

Gerbil, what kind doesen't need docking?

-- Novina West (lamb@stellarnet.com), May 11, 2000.

Novina, I've got Black Bellies. They're a hair breed. (Read utterly worthless, but needed a home.) Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 11, 2000.

Black Welsh Mountains canNot have their tails docked in the US. If you do dock their tails you will lose their Registry papers.

But yes, you have to becareful of Fly-strike, and in some very soft long wooled breeds, the back end can get sooo messy with muck that the tail can become pasted to their backside, causing all kinds of problems. In this cause most all the tail docked is best for the health of the sheep. (had to help a friend out when some of her sheep had this problem, it is not for the faint of heart!!! yuk!!)

Just depends on the breed,, what you will do with that breed,, what kind of fly problem you have in your area.

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), May 11, 2000.

Shannon--Give her 3 baby aspirin about 20 minutes before the docking-- really does help--and in about 20-30 minutes they are over it--area is now good and numb and they do fine---visited Scotland and hardly ever saw a docked tail--when these lambs go to the feed lots they are fed kelp (seaweed) and I was told it really gives them the cha-chas-- and it is a nasty sight. I leave quite a bit of tail--lost one lamb I had bought who had no tail left--rectal prolapse--so leave some tail--don't let them take it off too short--the Lord gave them tails for a reason--to coveer certain parts.I give my lambs pen-B--1cc at the time and 3 days later and 5 days after that.....just in cassse there are any problems--then check them daily. Good luck--harder on you than her, I'll bet. Lynn

-- Lynn N. Johnson (lynn@wauka.com), May 11, 2000.

My breed doesn't need docking, Shetlands, but I have a friend with Ramboullet's, and she never docks as she sells a lot of lamb to Orthodox folks who won't take them docked. She doesn't have any problems. I helped her shear and all looked fine. The Shetlands also have no wool in the crotch area. Really helped with shearing. No grease either. Guess you can tell I like the little gals! Good Luck, Jill

-- Jill Schreiber (schreiber@santanet.com), May 12, 2000.