Tail Docking of Dairy Cattle in the UK

Official Veterinarians are being asked to report any incidences of dairy cattle with docked tails, after a number of cases involving this practice were brought to the attention of AHVLA.

Veterinarians who come across tail-docked UK-bred cattle during the course of their work are asked to give the livestock keeper appropriate advice on the illegality of the procedure - and explain the risks of penalty reductions under cross compliance for those claiming single farm payment.

The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 does not allow tail-docking of cattle, and those carrying out the procedure are breaking the law. Similar legislation applies in Scotland and Wales. The full text of the English version of the 2007 Regulations can be found here.

Veterinarians should be aware that they could be criminally liable under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, or Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, if they have advised a livestock keeper to dock the tails of their cattle. In the UK surgery to remove part of the tail of cattle must only
be performed as a therapeutic action in response to injury or disease. Tail docking has been similarly banned in Denmark, Germany and Sweden, and even in those countries where it is still carried out routine tail-docking is not supported (e.g. the AVMA position in the United States) or has been banned in certain states/regions.

AHVLA will continue to monitor the situation and will consider further enforcement action if this activity continues.

Page last modified: 26 February, 2013