[Jacob-list] Docking tails on adult sheep

Gary Anderson gbanderson at ucdavis.edu
Mon May 3 14:45:52 EDT 2010


Regarding docking tails on adult sheep, I have seen adult sheep docked both
surgically and by banding. Ultimately, both approaches were successful in
terms of ending up with a sheep with a docked tail. The surgical docking
was accomplished under local anesthesia (e.g., lidocaine) and bleeding
controlled by cautery. Healing seemed to be slow, probably due to size of
the wound and perhaps heavy use of heat to control bleeding. I have been
told that adult sheep tails should not be banded, because the band may not
slip cleanly between vertebrae; nonetheless, I've seen the procedure done
with successful results in yearlings. The band was placed after lidocaine
injection into the area, and the animal did not appear to experience
excessive pain. Both of these 'adult dockings' were supervised by
food-animal veterinarians.

Personally, because of the more complicated procedures and longer recovery
periods than in lambs, I would be reluctant to do a backyard docking of an
adult unless I had strong justification and access to medication to address
pain.

-----Original Message-----
From: jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com
[mailto:jacob-list-bounces at jacobsheep.com] On Behalf Of
jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 12:15 PM
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Subject: Jacob-list Digest, Vol 71, Issue 1

Send Jacob-list mailing list submissions to
jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com

You can reach the person managing the list at
jacob-list-owner at jacobsheep.com

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Jacob-list digest..."


Today's Topics:

1. Docking tails on adult sheep (Jaci Siehl)
2. Re: Docking tails on adult sheep (Mark Essen)
3. Brown (Dan Carpenter)
4. Brown (gotothewhip at aol.com)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 09:21:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jaci Siehl <sugarpinejacobs at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Jacob-list] Docking tails on adult sheep
To: JacobList <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Message-ID: <171476.14768.qm at web113811.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have two ewes with "an experiment gone wrong".? Last year I thought I'd
try docking tails one joint longer.? Well, one was 2 joints longer and the
other one slipped down about 4 joints.? Both have extremely dirty tails that
I don't like and would like to dock them back to the normal length of all my
other sheep.
?
I don't have a vet close by that would surgically dock for me so it would
mean driving 60 miles one way, plus the cost at the vet's (not a practical
option at this time).
?
I assume I could just band them again at the correct spot, but I am
concerned that this may just make the end die but not fall off AND that it
would be very painful for the sheep for a long time.
?
Third option would be for me to cut the tails myself - but I've only done
day-old puppies this way and not sure about sheep.
?
Any opinions,?suggestions, or previous experiences would be welcomed.?

Jaci Siehl
Sugarpine Jacobs
530-538-9474



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/jacob-list/attachments/20100502/2ec3c87e/
attachment-0001.html>

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 02 May 2010 11:33:33 -0500
From: Mark Essen <messen at socket.net>
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Docking tails on adult sheep
Cc: JacobList <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Message-ID: <4BDDA95D.2000401 at socket.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I am very interested in the replies you get for this. My neighbor and
I sheared yesterday and she has a problem. Her sheep are commercial
white heavily fleeced sheep. She has a few that are adults, but never
docked. She will have the vet out Tuesday for other reasons and plans
on asking their advice. The shearer suggested banding. He said that
after two weeks you would probably have to cut off the tail right under
the band.
I will let you know what the vet suggests.

Jaci Siehl wrote:

> I have two ewes with "an experiment gone wrong". Last year I thought

> I'd try docking tails one joint longer. Well, one was 2 joints longer

> and the other one slipped down about 4 joints. Both have extremely

> dirty tails that I don't like and would like to dock them back to the

> normal length of all my other sheep.

>

> I don't have a vet close by that would surgically dock for me so it

> would mean driving 60 miles one way, plus the cost at the vet's (not a

> practical option at this time).

>

> I assume I could just band them again at the correct spot, but I am

> concerned that this may just make the end die but not fall off AND

> that it would be very painful for the sheep for a long time.

>

> Third option would be for me to cut the tails myself - but I've only

> done day-old puppies this way and not sure about sheep.

>

> Any opinions, suggestions, or previous experiences would be welcomed.

>

> /Jaci Siehl/

> *Sugarpine Jacobs*

> *530-538-9474*

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> _______________________________________________

> Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm & Fiberworks

> Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com

> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list

>


--
Mark Essen
messen at socket.net



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 12:42:51 -0400
From: "Dan Carpenter" <Hobsickle at aol.com>
Subject: [Jacob-list] Brown
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Message-ID: <000301caea16$82e4e720$88aeb560$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I'm interested in a BROWN ram. I've heard about brown Jacobs, but I've
never seen one that is distinctly brown all the way to the skin. Anyone
have such a critter that they'd be willing to part with? (I'd even be
interested in seeing pictures if you weren't willing to part with it.) Of
course, then there would be the transportation issue.



-Dan

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
<http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/jacob-list/attachments/20100502/19f5634e/
attachment-0001.htm>

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 17:52:02 +0000
From: gotothewhip at aol.com
Subject: [Jacob-list] Brown
To: "Jacoblist" <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Message-ID:

<1036954163-1272822718-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1846759120-@
bda473.bisx.prod.on.blackberry>

Content-Type: text/plain

I have what we call a chocolate lilac ewe that is NOT for sale (she is a
1992 model) she is on my website www.MooseMtnRanch.com . Her name is Sherack
Razabeth
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry


------------------------------

_______________________________________________
Jacob-list mailing list
Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list


End of Jacob-list Digest, Vol 71, Issue 1
*****************************************



More information about the Jacob-list mailing list