Lamb Castration and Tail Docking

Ovine producers and hobby farmers castrate male lambs to prevent reproduction and mating, and to increase the palatability of meat - the meat from ram sheep (intact males) is considered less palatable than the meat from whether sheep (castrated males). Ram meat contains skatoles, organic compounds from the indole family, which contribute to an unpleasant taste (British Veterinary Association, 2020). 

Oftentimes, ovine producers will dock the tails of lambs at the same time that they castrate them. In Alberta, docking tails of other species, such as dogs, is illegal becuase it has no benefit to the animal. In sheep, however, docking tails is necessary to avoid fly strike or myiasis. Fly strike occurs when excrement accumulates on the animal's tail, attracting flies to lay their eggs in the outer coat. As the eggs hatch into maggots, they feed on the flesh of the animal. 

Lamb castration and tail docking are done using small rubber bands which cut off the blood supply to the tail and testicles and, in time, causes these structures to atrophy and fall away, leaving the animal infertile and protected against flystrike. In male lambs, the rubber band is applied above the testicles on the neck of the scrotum and a second band is placed on the tail. Both male and female lambs undergo tail docking.