Posted January 7, 2014
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently
sent a letter to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, urging the organization to oppose
dairy cow tail docking, according to the HSUS new release available here.
Other states, including California, the biggest dairy
producing state, have banned the practice of tail docking.
The letter, available here,
states that scientific “studies have shown that tail-docking of dairy cows is a
serious animal welfare problem, causing distress, pain, and increased fly
attacks.” The studies “show that routine
tail-docking does not benefit either cows or farmers” and the practice “is
opposed by both the National Milk Producers Federation and the American
Veterinary Medical Association.”
Research from the University of Wisconsin Agriculture
& Extension Service states, “Contrary to popular opinion, there does not
appear to be any influence of tail docking on cleanliness of udders or legs,
nor does there appear to be a relationship between tail docking and milk
quality.” A study, “The Effects of Tail
Docking on Milk Quality and Cow Cleanliness” by D.A. Schreiner and P.L. Ruegg,
J. Dairy Sci. 85:2503-2511 (2002), is available here.
In a statement
released yesterday, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation spokesman Casey Langan,
said, “We support farmers and veterinarians deciding appropriate husbandry
practices for their farm…This should remain a decision between farmers and
their veterinarians, and not be a legislative mandate prompted by an animal
rights group whose end goal is to eliminate animal agriculture.”
For more information on animal welfare, please visit
the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
