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Is tail docking in dairy cattle legal?

Article ID: 272
Last updated: 03 Jun, 2010
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 State
Yes/No Name of relevant Act/special conditions and requirements
ACT n/a There are no dairy cattle in the ACT.
NSW Yes Section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act – Legal if carried out by a layperson providing the calf is less than six months of age.
Section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act – Legal if carried out by a veterinarian provided; a), the animal is a dairy cow, heifer or female calf where as a consequence of it’s environment there is a likelihood of disease to it’s udder. or b), if 6 months or older, the vet who docks the tail is provided with a statutory declaration stating reasons sufficient to establish the circumstances set out in a) and the tail must also be docked in such a manner that the tail is left long enough to cover the animals vulva.
NT No
Subject to the Veterinarians Act and the Veterinarians Regulations, a veterinarian may perform a procedure referred to in subsection (1) if he or she is of the opinion that it is reasonable and necessary to do so. There are no dairy cattle in NT.
QLD No Animal Care and Protection Act 2001
SA No Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
TAS Yes Animal Welfare Standards under Animal Welfare Act 1993
 VIC
Yes Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Cattle
 WA
Yes


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Also read
document Why are the tails of dairy cows docked?

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