Tail docking might be banned in California where most cows aren’t docked

Senator Dean Florez might be best known as the proud co-sponsor of Proposition 2 in California which bans the use of certain housing systems for veal and laying hens. He is also a well-known ally of the animal rights organization, HSUS. While Proposition 2 didn’t have a direct effect on the dairy industry, it was a foothold for what came next. This spring, he introduced a bill that would ban tail docking on dairy farms.

Tail docking isn’t common in California. A recent survey of 12 large animal veterinarians asked about tail docking practices of their dairy clients. A total of 294,339 cows were included in the study from the San Joaquin Valley and the Northern Sacramento Valley. The results of the study showed that 90.6 of the dairies do not dock tails and 88.7 percent of cows do not live in operations where it is practiced. In addition, several studies have shown no benefit to the practice.

Cassandra Tucker is an assistant professor at the University of California Davis. Tucker, before the vote, wrote in the California Dairy Newsletter, “If this bill passes, it would be part of a nationwide trend to set standards for how farm animals are cared for in the U.S.” The bill then did pass, by a vote of 27 to 12. What practices could be regulated next?

Tail docking and antibiotics under fire in California

When proposition 2 passed in California, new housing restrictions were placed on egg-laying hens, veal calves and pregnant sows. Just last month, California Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez introduced a bill that would outlaw tail docking. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) opposed proposition 2 but does not stand behind tail docking.

Just today, we learned of the Majority Leader’s plan to prohibit schools from serving meat or poultry products from animals treated with antibiotics. The bill would also place a ban on antibiotics for non-therapeutic and prophylactic uses. Finally, the bill would require state and local governments, when purchasing meat supplies, to prefer meat supplies produced without the use of medically important antibiotics as feed additives. See the .pdf link below to view the bill.

SB416.pdf

One thing is for certain; farmers and animal agriculture advocates across the country should be ready to educate the public on the measures we take to be good animal caretakers. Comment below to share your thoughts.