[Jacob-list] Broken Tails/ Tail docking

[Lynette Frick]

We did a little experimenting last year with tail lengths to see what worked
best for us.

Our Results where as follows:

Commercial length:
I knew from some of my adult ewes that I purchased that I didn't like the
standard commercial length. It was too short for them to lift out of the way
to pee when their staple reached over 3.5in. Plus, it is higher than
their vulva, and if they happen to be pink they can burn... not to mention I
don't like looking at naked sheep butts!

Long tails:
We docked the last two inches off of the last two 2007 lambs to see how they
did. The combination of the heavier tail that was harder to lift and
114* summer weather caused more humidity under the woollier of the two
-Papion, and she got nasty bum pimples, that cleared up after crutching.

Where we dock now:
Now we dock all the lambs about a 1/4 in. to a half in. below where the
plain skin stops. Not right below the folds, but down past that where the
wool starts to grow about 3.5 in. from the body. They can curl them up over
their backs (which they will when their about an hour or two before
lambing... works kinda like a flag!   :)  which keeps them cleaner through
lambing, peeing, and even diarrhea while in full fleece.
I'll take a picture of one we banded day before yesterday and put it on my
web page. Here is a link to get an idea of the adult lenght:
www.idealjacobsheep.com/ewes3.html . Lambie has the length I like, the first
one is shorter because she had a crook in her tail, and the third one moved
on me at docking, although it is still below her vulva. I process at three
days because they don't seem to feel it quite as bad, and have wethered at
that age too because I can do them by myself at that size. I don't usually
wether though, and prefer to do them at a month (with a helper) to help
prevent problems with water belly.

Sorry for rattling on!

Lynette Frick
IDEAL FARM
Jacob Sheep
www.idealjacobsheep.com

PS. Thank you for clearing up the OCD issue for my mom.




>

> Tail docking is good health practice. It's cleaner, but don't dock them

> too short !!

>

>

>

> Mick

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