UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Dairy producers interested in better fanning efficiency and improving herd health may want to consider docking their cows' tails, according to a veterinarian in Penn State’s College of Agricul tural Sciences. Larry Hutchinson, professor of veterinary science, said removing two-thirds of a cow’s tail a practice called “docking’’ catching on in Pennsylvania as producers with large herds change over to parrallel milking parlors. In parallel parlors, milking equipment is attached between the And Checking It Twice For goof-proof gift giving, or to add to your own collection, check out our authentic Ford Tractor and New Holland equipment toy replicas. These die-cast replicas, designed with dose attention to detail, look just like their big brothers. And, like their big brothers, they're made to last. - Bring along your holiday list and wrap up your shopping fast... with toys from New Holland. ALL STANDARD TOYS & FARM SETS UP TO 30% OFF MWHOOMD Docking Dairy Cow Tails Becoming Popular cow’s hind legs, and the animal’s tail becomes an obstacle to effi cient milking. ‘The tail is not just a physical obstacle,’’ Hutchinson said. “There also are sanitary con siderations during milking. The tail’s ‘switch’ the long-haired end of the tail is not clean, and it can contaminate the milking equipment, the cow’s teats and the hands of the person doing the milking.*’ Hutchinson said more Pennsyl vania dairy producers are switch ing from herringbone milking par lors to parallel configurations as is LANCASTER FORD TRACTORS. INC. RL 741 Just Off Rt 253, Lancaster, PA 17601 Phone (717) 569-7063 For Service that Does Not Stop .At A Sales Promise their herds expand. “I’ve seen several producers who still use herringbone parlors dock their cows’ tails as well,” he said. “They feel the cows remain cleaner, and milking is easier.” Hutchinson explained that a cow’s tail often can be the dirtiest part of the animal. The tail often is dropped into the milking gutter, manure or mud. When the cow swings its tail, mud and filth are sprayed onto her back, onto the udder or into the face of the person milking the cow. “One of the biggest questions about tail docking is how the cow l£W HOLLAND can control flies without a tail,” Hutchinson said. “In reality, the cow’s tail is pretty ineffective fly control. In fact, when a cow flicks a manure-laden tail onto its back, it tends to attract more flies.” Hutchinson emphasized that farmers who choose to dock their cows’ tails must be extra vigilant about fly control and cleanliness. “A cow with a docked tail can get just as dirty, if she is lying in manure and mud,” Hutchinson said. Tailless cows should be kept in clean and dry areas, and farmers should take fly control as a serious responsibility.” Cows can have their tails surgi cally removed by a veterinarian, or producers can remove the tail by using elastrators, rubber bands that are placed aroung the tail, cut ting off circulation to the remain ing part. “The tail will fall off within two to four weeks,” Hutchinson said. “It’s better for the cows if the tails arc docked within the first few months of life, because the blood vessels in the tail arc less devel oped in young calves. But you can use this method on adult cows as well.” Hutchinson suggested that pro ducers who have no experience in docking tails should consult with their veterinarian for a recom- MILK Where's your mustache 7 iNiMDycme^ Whole Me tarting j UJfUP The perfect partner for wagons. Choose c V Qto your crop residue auger unloading ... management system gB5 bushel capacities Sizes 4 to 16 rows farm-Rlte, lnc- w ms 3 ®£SS-f W 9-453-9480 mended docking procedure. Hutchinson said studies have shown that cows experience little stress when their tails are docked using the clastrator method. “There arc no observable signs of stress or pain, and cortisol an enzyme that indicates pain levels remains unchanged," he said. Hutchinson recommended leav ing one-third of the tail. For young heifers, that means placing the band approximately two finger widths below the calf s vulva. For older heifers and cows, place the band two hand-widths below the vulva. "Cutting the tail too short may result in vaginal infections," Hutchinson said. “If it is cut too long, the tail can act as a club. It can knock a person unconscious or flick equipment out of the hands of a farmer.” Hutchinson pointed out that the remaining stub is large enough to hold onto when restraining a cow. It also can be moved aside easily during insemination, lessening the chance of contamination. “Many producers, particularly those who show cattle,, choose not to dock tails,” he said. “As pro ducers seek more efflcient me thods, the practice probably will become more common in the next decade or two.”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers