Docking of cows' tails to be banned
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.
CIWF-Ireland director Mary-Anne Bartlett said it had been pressurising the Department of Agriculture and Food to ban the docking of cows' tails for some time.
"We have pointed out that cows need their tails to swat away flies, as they have no other way of doing this.
"Clearly, it is inhumane to remove such an essential part of a cow," she said.
Ms Bartlett said there were whole herds of dairy cattle around the country with short stumps instead of tails. The reasoning behind the mutilation seems to be a false belief that it is more hygienic at milking time.
"We are delighted that the minister has now put in place legislation that will ensure that all dairy cows keep their tails," she said.
