Tail docking (livestock): the law by country

Not law by itself; each state decides (mandatory in QLD, SA, TAS as of April 2026). Standards: skilled operator; over 6 months old needs pain relief and haemorrhage control; leave a stump with at least one palpable free joint.

Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep (endorsed January 2016), S6.1 to S6.3Checked 4 Nov 2026

Mandatory code per the national standards body. We read the national text, not the regulation: skilled operator; over 6 months old needs pain relief and haemorrhage control; at least one palpable free joint left.

Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2012 (Qld), national Sheep Standards as a code of practiceIn force since 1 July 2021Checked 4 Nov 2026

From 6 months old needs an analgesic or anaesthetic and haemorrhage treatment; leave a stump with at least one palpable free joint. The Animal Welfare Act 2025 (SA), not in operation on 2026-11-04, will repeal these regulations when it starts.

Animal Welfare Regulations 2012 (SA), r 77In force since 15 Apr 2017Checked 4 Nov 2026

Over 6 months old needs pain relief and steps against haemorrhage; leave at least one joint protruding from the rump, unless a veterinary surgeon is satisfied removing all joints is in the sheep's best interests.

Animal Welfare (Sheep) Regulations 2023 (Tas), r 18In force since 12 July 2023Checked 4 Nov 2026

National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice: an industry code, not a statute. NFACC says Code requirements are not explicitly binding in most provinces but can be evidence of distress. Referred to in provincial law: adopted in NL (NLR 36/12; NLR 35/12 s.15 makes a practice a code prohibits a prohibited one), prescribed in SK (Reg 1 s.3-4), named as a defence in NB (Reg 2000-4 s.4(2), Sch A) and BC (B.C. Reg. 34/2019, as generally accepted practice), accepted in NS (Act s.28(b)). Decide on a welfare risk/benefit basis; surgical docking and lambs over six weeks by a veterinarian with anesthesia and analgesia; no rubber rings past six weeks; no shorter than the distal end of the caudal fold.

NFACC Code of Practice: Sheep (2013), s.5.7 (industry code, not a statute)Checked 4 Nov 2026

National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice: an industry code, not a statute. NFACC says Code requirements are not explicitly binding in most provinces but can be evidence of distress. Referred to in provincial law: adopted in NL (NLR 36/12; NLR 35/12 s.15 makes a practice a code prohibits a prohibited one), prescribed in SK (Reg 1 s.3-4), named as a defence in NB (Reg 2000-4 s.4(2), Sch A) and BC (B.C. Reg. 34/2019, as generally accepted practice), accepted in NS (Act s.28(b)). Over 7 days of age with pain control; since 2016-07-01 at any age with analgesics.

NFACC Code of Practice: Pigs (2014), s.4.5.3 (industry code, not a statute)Checked 4 Nov 2026

Allowed only as permitted by a code adopted in the Animal Protection Standards Regulations (NLR 36/12 adopts the NFACC Sheep Code), or on a veterinarian's finding of injury or medical necessity.

Animal Protection Regulations, NLR 35/12, s.8Checked 4 Nov 2026

Lambs under 8 days without anaesthesia, by a qualified person. Text read on a legal publisher's copy of Act 246/1992 Sb. (last amended 1 April 2025), not the official collection.

Act 246/1992 Sb., s.7(3)(c)Checked 4 Nov 2026

Piglets under 7 days without anaesthesia, by a qualified person. Text read on a legal publisher's copy of Act 246/1992 Sb. (last amended 1 April 2025), not the official collection.

Act 246/1992 Sb., s.7(3)(c)Checked 4 Nov 2026

By elastrator on day 2-7 of life, by the person responsible for the lamb, leaving a stump that covers anus and vulva; otherwise only on veterinary grounds, by a vet.

Bekendtgørelse nr. 631 af 31. maj 2023 om halekupering, kastration og afhorning, ss.2-3In force since 1 July 2023Checked 4 Nov 2026

The agency says tail cutting is not permitted on animals other than piglets. The agency page cites no section numbers; the statute itself could not be opened (Riigi Teataja needs a script-enabled browser), so check the current wording.

Animal Protection Act (Loomakaitseseadus), as stated by the Agriculture and Food Board (PTA)Checked 4 Nov 2026

Only if cannibalism is noticed in the herd, for the health and welfare of other pigs. The agency page cites no section numbers; the statute itself could not be opened (Riigi Teataja needs a script-enabled browser), so check the current wording.

Animal Protection Act (Loomakaitseseadus), as stated by the Agriculture and Food Board (PTA)Checked 4 Nov 2026

Without anaesthesia only for lambs under 8 days; elastic rings allowed for lambs.

Tierschutzgesetz, s.5(3) and s.6Checked 4 Nov 2026

Without anaesthesia only for piglets under 4 days.

Tierschutzgesetz, s.5(3) and s.6Checked 4 Nov 2026

Rubber ring under 8 days, otherwise by a vet; keep enough tail to cover vulva or anus.

Animal Health and Welfare (Operations and Procedures) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 127/2014), Schedule, Part 3In force since 6 Mar 2014Checked 4 Nov 2026

Non-routine, under 8 days, on evidence of injury and after a vet's opinion on the premises' environment and management.

Animal Health and Welfare (Operations and Procedures) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 127/2014), Schedule, Part 2In force since 6 Mar 2014Checked 4 Nov 2026

Suffolk, Hampshire Down and Clun Forest only, not older than 7 days, with stud-book documents of the parents; elastic bands no longer allowed (RVO).

Besluit diergeneeskundigen, ch. 2, art. 2.5Checked 4 Nov 2026

Tail tip of piglets not older than 4 days, where injuries are found and measures against tail biting failed.

Besluit diergeneeskundigen, ch. 2, art. 2.3Checked 4 Nov 2026

Under 6 months: hot iron or rubber ring only, and no shorter than the distal end of the caudal fold. From 6 months: veterinarian (or supervised veterinary student) with pain relief. The operator must be trained or experienced and able to recognise distress.

Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, r 52AIn force since 9 May 2021Checked 4 Nov 2026

Under 7 days: a clean cut that does not tear tissue. From 7 days: veterinarian (or supervised veterinary student) with pain relief. The operator must be trained or experienced and able to recognise distress.

Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, r 52In force since 1 Oct 2018Checked 4 Nov 2026

Small ruminants born in Slovakia, up to 8 days of age. Version of 1 January 2022; a 2025 amendment (307/2025) exists and was not checked.

Act 39/2007 Z.z. on veterinary care, s.22(2)(c)Checked 4 Nov 2026

Enough tail must be kept to cover the vulva or anus. Rubber ring or similar only at 7 days or under; any other method needs an anaesthetic.

SI 2007/1100, Sch. 1 and Sch. 5In force since 6 Apr 2007Checked 4 Nov 2026

Only after environmental or management measures have been tried and tail-biting injury is still evidenced; quick and complete severance; anaesthetic and prolonged analgesia at 7 days or over.

SI 2007/1100, Sch. 1 and Sch. 3In force since 6 Apr 2007Checked 4 Nov 2026

Lay person: keep enough tail to cover vulva or anus; rubber ring up to 7 days; other means such as a hot docking iron up to 3 months.

Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures by Lay Persons) Regulations (NI) 2012 (S.R. 2012/153), Sch. 3In force since 2 Apr 2012Checked 4 Nov 2026

Lay person: only after other measures against tail-biting and with injuries still occurring; up to 7 days without an anaesthetic, quick and complete severance.

Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures by Lay Persons) Regulations (NI) 2012 (S.R. 2012/153), Sch. 2In force since 2 Apr 2012Checked 4 Nov 2026

Farmed sheep on agricultural land, for animal health. Over 3 months, or surgical docking, by a vet only; keep enough tail to cover vulva or anus.

SSI 2010/387, Sch. 4In force since 5 Nov 2010Checked 4 Nov 2026

Farmed pigs on agricultural land, on evidence of tail injuries after other measures; quick and complete severance; over 7 days by a vet only under anaesthetic with prolonged analgesia.

SSI 2010/387, Sch. 2In force since 5 Nov 2010Checked 4 Nov 2026

Enough tail to cover vulva or anus. Rubber ring only at 7 days or under; any other method needs an anaesthetic.

WSI 2007/1029, Sch. 5In force since 28 Mar 2007Checked 4 Nov 2026

Only after other measures against tail-biting failed; quick and complete severance; anaesthetic and prolonged analgesia at 7 days or over.

WSI 2007/1029, Sch. 3In force since 28 Mar 2007Checked 4 Nov 2026

May be done by a knowledgeable individual, following the FASS Guide (2010) and Battaglia's Handbook of Livestock Management (2007). Subsection rewritten effective 2012-02-06.

N.J.A.C. 2:8-6.6(d)In force since 6 Feb 2012Checked 4 Nov 2026

May be done by a knowledgeable individual.

N.J.A.C. 2:8-7.6(d)Checked 4 Nov 2026

Acceptable if done humanely. The responsible party chooses the method and any pain management, weighing age, weight, environment, facilities and safety. Earlier version from 2011.

Ohio Admin. Code 901:12-12-02In force since 13 Feb 2025Checked 4 Nov 2026