Stupid sheep question #3456285 Tail docking

[Pasty]

New to sheep. Bought some 'in lamb' Wilts to a Dorset. One has lambed and it's looking strong. Last thursday I think. Then somebody says I need to dock it. So I guess I need to do that tomorrow? Going to Cornwall Farmers early. What do I need?

Or do I not bother? If not, why not?

 

[CJay]

Some kit like this should do your job

 

[The Craven Heifer]

Hi Pasty. Youd be best to find a decent local sheep farmer if you've just invested in sheep. Number one killer for newbie sheep keepers is fly strike, it's really awful, don't let it catch you out, keep back ends clean, test for worms and use Clik. Vaccinate once a year. Keep pregnant ewes in good condition and run em through a footbath regularly. Upending for foot scald becomes very tedious. If a ewe has a foot off the ground; antibiotic jab. Yes you need an elastrator and rubber castration rings. Legally only up to 7 days can you tail and castrate using rings, after 7 days the pain increases for them. Tailing ringing MUST cover either the vulva in a ewe lamb or in a male, the anus. Some shepherds dock far too short. Castration requires more skill, you MUST ensure you have trapped both testes in the scrotal sack before releasing rubber ring. Ask an experienced shepherd to show you. Hope this helps.

 

[bovine]

Ask your vet/merchant cheap and stock items, maybe take it along and they will show you?

Legally need to be done in first 7 days so tomorrow is your last chance.

 

[The Craven Heifer]

Sorry meant to say! Yes, def worth tailing, else you'll get a sh...y back end. Not good in either fat lambs or ewes, you don't want messy tails around lambing time.

 

[The Craven Heifer]

Pasty did you get the 's' and 't' the wrong way round or are you really named after a popular meat and vegetable containing pastry product (or is that a pastie? Hmm got me thinking now) why am I still awake, must check ewes and go to sleep!

 

[reverand]

Is your avatar yourself lifting your top up and bearing your backside after getting burnt in the sun

 

[Henarar]

We have allsorts of ewes that have lambed to a Dorset tup,
@farmerclare hasn't tail docked any of the ewe lambs as we intend to keep most of them for replacements or the ones we don't keep can go as freezer lambs, we have docked and castrated the tup lambs as they knock the price back if we need to take them to the collection centre.

Clare has a few ewes with long tails and has found they don't get any more problems with flies and if anything they don't tend to be the most dirty ,

I hasten to add though that this is just our point of view and you should do what you think is best,

 

[Tim W]

I obviously don't tail my shedders (and never tailed wilts)
I have run shedder x terminal sires and not bothered tailing them either ---but I have selected for no dags for generations
I also run some Charollais things and run a number of them without tailing ---- no worries yet but I do have to crutch these girls before lambing (wool and occasionally some dags from over winter)

I question the need for tail cutting in many instances and think much of it is down to tradition but if you are worried get on with it

 

[Henarar]

What are you going to do with the lambs @Pasty ?

 

[Man_in_black]

If a ewe is gonna get shitty then she'll be shitty with or without a tail. Aye, a long tail may exasperate the issue but I'd be more concerned about why she shitty rather than if her tail covers her fanny.

 

[Bury the Trash]

you have trapped both testes in the scrotal sack before releasing rubber ring.

and take care not trap the 2 spurious little teats that are to the side of the scrotal sack....

...put the ring over ensuring the stones are caught up in the bag then if needed ,with your finger ..flick the teats out from under the ring to free them......

 

[Pasty]

What are you going to do with the lambs @Pasty ?

Only got 1! I bought some Wilts earlier in the year and 1 had been in with a Dorset ram so they thought she have been got. I'm moving them later today so thought that would be the time to do it. Now I'm unsure.

 

[Henarar]

ewe lamb or ram lamb ?

 

[Bury the Trash]

We have allsorts of ewes that have lambed to a Dorset tup,
@farmerclare hasn't tail docked any of the ewe lambs as we intend to keep most of them for replacements or the ones we don't keep can go as freezer lambs, we have docked and castrated the tup lambs as they knock the price back if we need to take them to the collection centre.

Clare has a few ewes with long tails and has found they don't get any more problems with flies and if anything they don't tend to be the most dirty ,

I hasten to add though that this is just our point of view and you should do what you think is best,

i hope you dag them well,dorsets are hard enough to shear let alone with long tails .


also its a lot easier doing 5 than 500 .



to the op, there's no need to take them off too short either.

 

[spin cycle]

Only got 1! I bought some Wilts earlier in the year and 1 had been in with a Dorset ram so they thought she have been got. I'm moving them later today so thought that would be the time to do it. Now I'm unsure.

i wouldn't bother...times getting on

 

[Pasty]

ewe lamb or ram lamb ?

Sorry, ram. I did get all the kit but in the end we decided to leave him. He's Xmas dinner this year and as we'll only have 1 to deal with we can just keep an eye and keep it trimmed if he gets shittty. Had it been a ewe we would have certainly done it.

Nest question. Assuming we leave him entire, when does he need to come out from the ewes? Assume we'll need to buy in at least 1 buddy for him at that point.

 

[Man_in_black]

when does he need to come out from the ewes?

Usually say 5 month cut off safety period.

 

[Philip Watkins]

.....
Nest question. Assuming we leave him entire, ....

Well you've missed the chance to ring him now.

 

[Benn]

If a ram lamb surely got ring ball
Be pain in arse keeping on ramlamb seperate from flock?