New York Becomes Second State to Propose Bill Banning Tail Docking in Cattle

(This may be a little late on the news front, but still worth knowing)

By: Erin Lashnits

Cornell University, Class of 2012

A bill to prohibit tail docking in cattle was introduced in the New York State Assembly in January. 

     This ban comes on the heals of a recent report by ABC Nightline, in which a video recorded by the animal rights group Mercy for Animals showed tail docking and dehorning, as well as sick and injured cows, excessively dirty living conditions, and improper handling of cattle.  The video was recorded during an undercover investigation of a 5,000 head New York dairy farm.  The segment also included a heavily edited interview with Chris Galen, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) spokesperson, but did not show footage of other farm sources provided to ABC by Dairy Management, Inc.

            The New York bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, is following California’s lead, where a bill banning tail docking took effect on January first of this year.  Neither the proposed New York law, nor the California law, prohibits amputation of the tail for medical reasons or to relieve pain.

            The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has opposed tail docking in cattle since 2004, citing scientific literature that shows no benefit to the animal from routine tail docking.  In fact, the AVMA advises that tail docking can cause distress in the animals during fly season. 

            The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) revised their stance on the practice in 2006, acknowledging the lack of sufficient scientific evidence in support of the procedure.  The AABP’s statement, though, provides a caveat that if producers consider tail docking necessary in specific situations—environmental, management, or housing conditions—it is still allowable with counseling from a veterinarian.

            The NMPF still considers tail docking an acceptable practice when performed with proper anesthesia, and has also recently outlined a voluntary management program, Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible  Management), to assure consumers that their milk is produced with the welfare of the herd in mind.

            While professional organizations like the AVMA and AABP have come out against tail docking, it still remains a fairly common practice among producers who believe it helps control mastitis by keeping manure off the cows.  It seems likely, however, that as the public becomes increasingly intolerant of this practice, more states will begin to introduce legislation like that of New York and California.