Tail docking of dairy cattle was once widely practised to improve udder hygiene. Scientific evidence shows it provides no hygiene benefit and causes significant welfare costs.
Cattle tail docking is a clear example of a practice that persisted long after the evidence base for its supposed benefit collapsed. Research consistently shows no improvement in udder hygiene, somatic cell counts, or mastitis rates in herds where tails are docked. Meanwhile, the welfare costs are real: docking causes acute pain during the procedure, chronic sensitivity at the stump, and permanent impairment of fly-swatting behaviour, which is important for cattle comfort particularly in summer. The rapid decline of the practice following professional society recommendations and regulatory bans demonstrates that evidence-based advocacy can achieve meaningful welfare change.