By Kate Jidnok
Student ID 1500467
Introduction
The tail docking is a process of removing a part of a lamb’s tail. The shortening of the tail is done using a dock iron, rubber rings, a knife or scalpel, or an emasculator. One of the main concerns that lead to docking is to avoid incidences of urine and faeces accumulating under the tail of the sheep. The accumulation makes the sheep vulnerable to attacks by certain kinds of flies that cause bacterial infection, which in turn causes agony, uneasiness and even demise of the sheep. The other major reasons for docking are to ease the breeding processes in ewes and help in gaining weight (Association, 2000).
Even though docking has it benefits, the shortcomings are so many that it should not be encouraged. The paper seek to clarify an opinion against docking and giving recommendations on the alternative methods to be embraced (Association, 2000).
Tail docking should be discouraged given that it causes severe pain to the lambs. In fact, the assertion is the major ground that make most animal welfare advocates to oppose docking. The agony gets intents provided the sheep’s tail is docked near the alimentary canal’s opening.
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The cases of very short docking may also result in damage of nerves in the rectum and vulva leading to high risks of vaginal and rectal prolapsed (Thomas D.L., 2003).
Each technique used when a flock sheep is dock proves to have numerous drawbacks. For instance, the usage of rubber ring has a disadvantage of risks of infection if the ring is placed on tail for too long. The ring usually cuts into the tissue and can create access for bacteria that may cause serious infections like tetanus. The information of puss around the ring may be an attraction for flies that can bring larvae that are prone to causing the bacterial infection. Scientific studies also provide evidence that it cause much pain to the lambs (Graham, Kent, & Molony, 2002).
On the other hand, the usage of knife is apparently painful and exposes the lambs to the risk of over bleeding especially if the age of the lambs has advanced. It also leaves an exposed wound that bacteria can easily enter through and cause illness (Graham, Kent, & Molony, 2002).
Alternative methods to docking due to the disadvantages of docking embrace alternative methods that can help in advoiding flies strike without necessarily docking. The first alternative is choosing a breed of sheep that has short tails. Whenever the famer has very long-tailed flock, rams with short tails should be introduced in the farm so that the offspring with shorter tails can be bred (Bassett, 2009).
The farmer should ensure that the lambs are in environments where they are not at risk of being attacked by flies. In most cases, literatures reveal that the flies like sheltered environments that are moist and warm. The flock should be moved to exposed environments during seasons when there is high risk of being attacked by flies. The farmer can also use insecticides to keep kill the flies and ensure that the farm is well managed with high standards of hygiene to keep the flies away (Bassett, 2009).

Conclusion
In conclusion, docking should only be embraced as the last option and the farmer should ensure that it is done in young healthy lambs aged between one to three weeks. The lambs should not be docked if the climatic conditions appear to be unfavourable and when the environment is covered with mud. In fact, the farmer should keep routine check-ups on the lambs to ensure that there are no ill effects (Stull, 2009).