Docking of cows' tails to be banned

Ireland: Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has welcomed a decision by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh, to introduce legislation prohibiting the routine docking of tails of cattle.

CIWF said the new legislation means that farmers can no longer remove dairy cows' tails simply for reasons of convenience or the false belief that it leads to improved hygiene.

The organisation expressed delight that the sight of herds of dairy cows with short stumps instead of tails will now become a thing of the past in Ireland.