Why do people dock cow's tails

Mav2007 · 10-28-2008, 11:45 PM

I see a lot of farmers around here that dock their cow's tails. Why do they do this? Isn't it taking away the cows ability to swat flies? It also looks pretty ridiculous when a field full of cows all have short stumpy tails.

BabyMay · 10-29-2008, 05:37 AM

I asked hubby this same question last year. He works for a farm company. He said it is for hygene reasons. Keeps manure off of udder. The farms usually put things the cows can rub on to keep flys off of the cows. I think it looks awful also. Poor cows.

breburtch · 10-29-2008, 05:55 AM

Never saw or heard of this before so I'm guessing it's just certian areas that do it but I'd imagine it's to help keep the udders clean aswell as the backsides of manure.

walkerfarms · 10-29-2008, 06:00 AM

The only ones that I have seen docked around here are dairy cows and it is done because of milking them.

**QuarterCowGirl** · 10-29-2008, 12:31 PM

They dock the tails at most of the farms that I work at. It keeps the cows cleaner and when your milking them in a parlor (their udders are at eye level) the tail isn't in the way.

It doesn't hurt them at all. They band the calves' tails and it cuts off the circulation and eventually falls off.

When I first started working for the big farms I thought it was so mean, but the cows don't know anything different and know neither do I! If the cows are put outside in the summer, I would recommend using fly spray on them to aid in keeping the bugs away, but again it's not going to hurt themat all if they aren't sprayed.

pvf · 10-29-2008, 12:36 PM

yep sanitary reasons, same with the hair removal on there udder. only done with milking cows not beef.

nrhareiner · 10-29-2008, 08:08 PM

Have you ever woked at a dairy milking cows????? {Snipped} Not only dose it make it easy to keep the uters clean when milking but also keeps you from getting swated with the tail. Hated the ones who did not have the doced tails you had to really watch them. Also I can not speek for all cows but no hair on their utters nore did any of the beef caws.

Heidi

Promise Ranch · 10-29-2008, 08:51 PM

I've never worked at a dairy, but I do know there is hair on the udders that is removed a variety of ways at some large dairy farms, keeping the udders clean and sanitary.

I always assumed the tail docking was for that same reason...

qtrhorse1993 · 10-29-2008, 08:55 PM

i asked a farmer just the other day! and it is to keep the manure off the udders and face of the person milking..its all for sanitary reasons.it is done humanely and withing a few days of birth.

nrhareiner · 10-29-2008, 09:03 PM

Also keeps the tail from getting sors from hiting it on the piping and other items in the barn and parler.

Heidi

**QuarterCowGirl** · 10-29-2008, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrhareiner

Have you ever woked at a dairy milking cows????? {Snipped} Not only dose it make it easy to keep the uters clean when milking but also keeps you from getting swated with the tail. Hated the ones who did not have the doced tails you had to really watch them. Also I can not speek for all cows but no hair on their utters nore did any of the beef caws.

Heidi

The cows can still hit you in the head with the docked tails and it hurts way more! When you're AIing a cow and both hands are full you can't stop it and they'll hit you in the head repeatedly! It hurts way worse then a long cow tail.

BarrelGirl · 10-29-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuarterCowGirl

The cows can still hit you in the head with the docked tails and it hurts way more! When you're AIing a cow and both hands are full you can't stop it and they'll hit you in the head repeatedly! It hurts way worse then a long cow tail.

QCG, that's an interesting visual

**QuarterCowGirl** · 10-30-2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarrelGirl

QCG, that's an interesting visual

Yep, I don't think you want pictures of that one!

Thekidsmum · 10-30-2008, 09:46 AM

I have never seen it nor heard of it. I highly doubt that it would be legal to do in Australia. Docking /cropping of any part of a dog is illegal unless for a medical issue.

**QuarterCowGirl** · 10-30-2008, 10:14 AM

Here's a picture to compare...

http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newslet...ges/Slide1.JPG

arabiancowgirl · 10-30-2008, 12:58 PM

It looks more ugly than I thought t would be!

nrhareiner · 10-30-2008, 01:19 PM

You AI a cow 1 time a year you milk them 2 times a day. When you are milking and the tail is doced it can not hit you at all. So I would rather worry about maybe getting hit one time a year versas getting hit with it 2 times a day times about 350-400 head.

Again it is also to keep them from damaging their tails in the barn too. Which leads to infections which leads to antibiotics which leads to no milk from that cow for a week or more.

Heidi

pvf · 10-30-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrhareiner

You AI a cow 1 time a year you milk them 2 times a day. When you are milking and the tail is doced it can not hit you at all. So I would rather worry about maybe getting hit one time a year versas getting hit with it 2 times a day times about 350-400 head.

Again it is also to keep them from damaging their tails in the barn too. Which leads to infections which leads to antibiotics which leads to no milk from that cow for a week or more.

Heidi

not all cows are milked 2 times a day. When I worked at a large dairy we have 1800 cows milking they all got milked 3 times a day. You AI a cow more than once and you also preg check them which is almost the samething.

nrhareiner · 10-30-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvf

not all cows are milked 2 times a day. When I worked at a large dairy we have 1800 cows milking they all got milked 3 times a day. You AI a cow more than once and you also preg check them which is almost the samething.

Yes some dairies do milk 3 times a day however that is not the norm and you do not get more milk that way it is just easier to move them through.

Also No Dairy cows are not bred more then 1 time a year. If you do then you will not get the most milk from that cow in a given year. They need to be dry before they calve and if you breed them back right after they calve then you will be cutting into their milk production.

Also checking to see if they are bred is not done like you would a horse. They are not palpaited they use Kbars on their back When the bar is bright red they are ready to be bred. They will check it the same way the following month. If the cow dose not come back in the Kbar will not be broken and the cow is bred. Easy safe and very cost effective.

Now I know that there are some dairies that do things differents but this is how all the large dairies around here do it and there are a lot.

Heidi

Orchid · 10-30-2008, 02:25 PM

The big dairies here all milk 3 times a day. The smaller ones, twice.

And pvf didn't say you AI them once a year, she said you AI them more than once.

I believe QCG was just pointing out the fact that even docked tails can still whap you a good one.

Is there a reason you feel compelled to argue with everyone, nrhareiner?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do I dock their tails?	farmergal	Dogs	36	07-06-2007 05:16 PM
Horse tails/clipping tails	NachtJaeger	General Horse Advice	1	04-28-2007 05:44 AM
Dandruffy tail dock?	Orchid	Health & Nutrition	6	04-14-2005 06:47 PM

10-28-2008, 11:45 PM
Mav2007 Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,670	Why do people dock cow's tails I see a lot of farmers around here that dock their cow's tails. Why do they do this? Isn't it taking away the cows ability to swat flies? It also looks pretty ridiculous when a field full of cows all have short stumpy tails.

10-29-2008, 05:37 AM
BabyMay Started Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,779	I asked hubby this same question last year. He works for a farm company. He said it is for hygene reasons. Keeps manure off of udder. The farms usually put things the cows can rub on to keep flys off of the cows. I think it looks awful also. Poor cows. __________________ For the love of all animals.

10-29-2008, 05:55 AM
breburtch Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 2,910	Never saw or heard of this before so I'm guessing it's just certian areas that do it but I'd imagine it's to help keep the udders clean aswell as the backsides of manure.

10-29-2008, 06:00 AM
walkerfarms Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: TY TY Georgia Posts: 436	The only ones that I have seen docked around here are dairy cows and it is done because of milking them. __________________

10-29-2008, 12:31 PM
QuarterCowGirl Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 7,384	They dock the tails at most of the farms that I work at. It keeps the cows cleaner and when your milking them in a parlor (their udders are at eye level) the tail isn't in the way. It doesn't hurt them at all. They band the calves' tails and it cuts off the circulation and eventually falls off. When I first started working for the big farms I thought it was so mean, but the cows don't know anything different and know neither do I! If the cows are put outside in the summer, I would recommend using fly spray on them to aid in keeping the bugs away, but again it's not going to hurt themat all if they aren't sprayed. __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

10-29-2008, 12:36 PM
pvf Regional Forums Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,276	yep sanitary reasons, same with the hair removal on there udder. only done with milking cows not beef. __________________ www.prairieviewfarms.net Raising Reg. Paints and Quarter horses

10-29-2008, 08:08 PM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	Have you ever woked at a dairy milking cows????? {Snipped} Not only dose it make it easy to keep the uters clean when milking but also keeps you from getting swated with the tail. Hated the ones who did not have the doced tails you had to really watch them. Also I can not speek for all cows but no hair on their utters nore did any of the beef caws. Heidi Last edited by seerfarm : 10-29-2008 at 08:29 PM.

10-29-2008, 08:51 PM
Promise Ranch Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,797	I've never worked at a dairy, but I do know there is hair on the udders that is removed a variety of ways at some large dairy farms, keeping the udders clean and sanitary. I always assumed the tail docking was for that same reason... __________________ It is the eternal struggle between these two principles - right and wrong. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time and will ever continue to struggle. It is the same spirit that says, "You work and toil and earn bread, and I'll eat it." - Abraham Lincoln

10-29-2008, 08:55 PM
qtrhorse1993 Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johnstown, New York Posts: 706	i asked a farmer just the other day! and it is to keep the manure off the udders and face of the person milking..its all for sanitary reasons.it is done humanely and withing a few days of birth.

10-29-2008, 09:03 PM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	Also keeps the tail from getting sors from hiting it on the piping and other items in the barn and parler. Heidi

10-30-2008, 09:46 AM
Thekidsmum Weanling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sunny Australia Posts: 243	I have never seen it nor heard of it. I highly doubt that it would be legal to do in Australia. Docking /cropping of any part of a dog is illegal unless for a medical issue.

10-30-2008, 10:14 AM
QuarterCowGirl Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, CANADA Posts: 7,384	Here's a picture to compare... http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newslet...ges/Slide1.JPG __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

10-30-2008, 12:58 PM
arabiancowgirl Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 2,060	It looks more ugly than I thought t would be! __________________ It's easy to be Pro-Choice... if your not the one being killed.

10-30-2008, 01:19 PM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	You AI a cow 1 time a year you milk them 2 times a day. When you are milking and the tail is doced it can not hit you at all. So I would rather worry about maybe getting hit one time a year versas getting hit with it 2 times a day times about 350-400 head. Again it is also to keep them from damaging their tails in the barn too. Which leads to infections which leads to antibiotics which leads to no milk from that cow for a week or more. Heidi

10-30-2008, 02:25 PM
Orchid Bombproof Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11,048	The big dairies here all milk 3 times a day. The smaller ones, twice. And pvf didn't say you AI them once a year, she said you AI them more than once. I believe QCG was just pointing out the fact that even docked tails can still whap you a good one. Is there a reason you feel compelled to argue with everyone, nrhareiner? __________________ Careful what you wish; Careful what you say; Careful what you wish; You may regret it; Careful what you wish; You just might get it. ~ Metallica, King Nothing