Tailing lambs

[smj1]

There is a local hill farmer, that keeps his stock very good condition, I have noticed tails lambs by cutting them off or most probably I would guess with a tail iron before they go on the hills. I haven't watched him do it, just seen the pile of tails year on year left by the little building he does it in. My question is what would be the reasoning for doing it that way? Would it be as its maybe easier than catching every lamb individually, or because hes always done it that way, or is there another reason why farmers do it that way?

 

[Al R]

@exmoor dave do you use a iron?

@smj1 have a look at shearwell tags website, they have docking irons on there so might explain the benefit’s to it? I’m still on rubber rings mind

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Heals quicker than a ring so less chance of infection

 

[exmoor dave]

@exmoor dave do you use a iron?

@smj1 have a look at shearwell tags website, they have docking irons on there so might explain the benefit’s to it? I’m still on rubber rings mind

Nope,
Feb flock are lambed indoors so ringed before turn out

April flock, tails are just left (woolshedders)

 

[Spartacus]

There is a local hill farmer, that keeps his stock very good condition, I have noticed tails lambs by cutting them off or most probably I would guess with a tail iron before they go on the hills. I haven't watched him do it, just seen the pile of tails year on year left by the little building he does it in. My question is what would be the reasoning for doing it that way? Would it be as its maybe easier than catching every lamb individually, or because hes always done it that way, or is there another reason why farmers do it that way?

It's how it used to be done, when I was younger we used to do them all at a month old with a knife, nothing hot just sliced them off, bled for a while but no noticable problems afterwards. Made counting lambs easier as the tails didnt move unles you moved them!