Author Topic: ringing v cutting lamb tails  (Read 12701 times)

Porterlauren

  • Joined Apr 2014
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #15 on: May 27, 2014, 01:42:24 pm »
That about sums it up Sally.

Sbom

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Staffordshire
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #16 on: May 27, 2014, 05:28:31 pm »
I used to work for a guy who cut his lams tails with a hot iron type blade that attached to a gas cylinder. The knife cut the tail like it was going through butter, only took a second and to my mind seemed more humane than the longer pain that ringing must cause. Never seen one since......

shep53

  • Joined Jan 2011
  • Dumfries & Galloway
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #17 on: May 27, 2014, 06:22:14 pm »
The new Zealanders who invented the elastrator are swinging  more towards hot irons , they say the wound heals faster and causes less infection and fly problems ..     Hot iron tailing has been around for ever using irons heated in a fire and a wooden block to chop onto . 

fiestyredhead331

  • Joined Sep 2012
  • NW Highlands
    • Facebook
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #18 on: May 27, 2014, 06:25:09 pm »
so it's essentially cauterising the tail? sounds better than just cutting but still sounds painful
keeper of goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens, turkeys, dogs, cats, goldfish and children, just don't ask me which is the most work!

jaykay

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Cumbria/N Yorks border
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #19 on: May 27, 2014, 07:03:22 pm »
Cutting lambs tails with a knife - the 'macho sŁ&„' element of farming. Not necessary and not impressive.

 I accept that rings cause some pain. Don't quite like the sound of hot irons, a cut and a burn. Thinking how much burns hurt when I do them to me, and for how long they hurt - hot iron tailing sounds painful to me   :-\
« Last Edit: May 27, 2014, 07:06:40 pm by jaykay »

JulieWall

  • Joined Aug 2013
  • Cornhill, Banff
    • The Roundhouse
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #20 on: May 28, 2014, 12:11:48 am »
Is ringing the tail painful? They don't react to it in any way that I can see, unlike castration rings where they often stagger away and drop to the ground feeling crappy. I guess without being on the receiving end it's impossible to know.
Given how dirty some of the long wool breeds can get after being on new grass I always assumed that tail docking was for practical reasons, ie helping prevent fly strike from dirty behinds. I had a ewe with an overlong tail once who regularly had trouble conceiving, the poor old tup couldn't get in. When he did manage though, she always had triplets or quads.
Does anyone know the actual reason that we tail dock?
Permaculture and smallholding, perfect partners
http://theroundhouseforum.co.uk/

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #21 on: May 28, 2014, 12:20:39 am »
I always assumed that tail docking was for practical reasons, ie helping prevent fly strike from dirty behinds. I had a ewe with an overlong tail once who regularly had trouble conceiving, the poor old tup couldn't get in.

Does anyone know the actual reason that we tail dock?

Exactly the reasons you list.

Ewes of hill breeds may be left long tailed as they need the cover for the udder over winter.  Plus they store fat in their tails; it is said that a Swaledale can live for a week (or it may be a fortnight) on the fat in her tail!  In order to be sure the tup has free access they are 'crutched' a week to 10 days before the tup goes in - the tail is shaved at the level of the vulva ;)

Abbatoirs probably do have a preference for docked fat lambs.  Anything which could contaminate the meat is a problem, of course, and a dirty backside is one such.  They can reject lambs which pose a risk of contamination, so we always crutch anything even a tiny bit dirty when we send them off, whether they are docked or not.
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

JulieWall

  • Joined Aug 2013
  • Cornhill, Banff
    • The Roundhouse
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #22 on: May 28, 2014, 10:56:06 am »
The mart I use has a unit set up where they crutch shear any prime lambs before they go in the sale. It makes sense as a better price for the sellers means a better commission for themselves.
Permaculture and smallholding, perfect partners
http://theroundhouseforum.co.uk/

Hellybee

  • Joined Feb 2010
    • www.blaengwawrponies.co.uk
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #23 on: May 28, 2014, 11:00:10 am »
We dock before they go out, with rings, baz does that, he has a very good eye for it.  I don't like the idea of cutting, due to open wound but the cauterising technique does make some sense to me, sealing the wound somewhat.  There s no real competition though V ringing x


Scotshear

  • Joined May 2014
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #24 on: June 07, 2014, 05:39:52 pm »
I have cut and still do cut lambs tails- in Australia last year we cut over 43,000 tails with a gas iron/ and or knife. It actually works out a lot more humane and has much less of a lasting effect on the lamb and its development, unfortunately it does look harsh and is probably initially more painful, but heals a lot quicker and is a lot less prone to infection if done properly. If you dont beleive me try  putting an elastrator on your finger and leaving it there for an hour- obviously this will hurt a lot less than cutting your finger off but imagine the constant pain for 2 weeks. A few other things I found out when cutting tails- make sure any cuts are between the 3rd and 4th joints you can feel, if you don't cut between the joints and go through the bone it wont heal as quick. Also vets are actually recommending cutting with a regular knife rather than gas as it heals quicker- apparently because the gas knife burns the lamb has to recover from the cut and a burn as well. if anyone has any counter points or questions let me know and I would be happy to answer.

Tim W

  • Joined Aug 2013
Re: ringing v cutting lamb tails
« Reply #25 on: June 07, 2014, 07:35:56 pm »
Another reason to keep hair/shedding sheep as they don't have woolly tails that collect dung and hence don't need mutilating

 

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