A UK-wide public consultation led by DEFRA, which proposes changes to how lamb castration and tail docking is undertaken on farms, closes to responses on Monday 9 March.

The proposals have originated from an independent expert group known as the Animal Welfare Committee, which has produced three reports on the issue, including in 2022. Its view is that even young lambs up to seven days old can experience acute pain, so pain relief should now be used.

In NI, pain relief is currently not required where rubber rings are used for castrating or tail docking lambs up to seven days of age, while other methods such as clamp castration (burdizzo) or a hot iron can be used in lambs up to three months without pain relief.

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Speaking at an online event on Monday, the chief executive of the National Sheep Association (NSA), Phil Stocker, said the proposed changes were potentially very divisive.

“What is important is that we find an acceptable, reasonable and practical way forward at a pace that industry can cope with and a way that doesn’t cause worse welfare problems or unintended problems en route,” he said.

He pointed out that ringing is fast, cheap and easy to do and warned that if tails are left on lambs, it increases the risk of fly strike. Where lambs are left entire, there is an increased risk of unwanted pregnancies.

One of the other main issues relates to the lack of suitable pain relief drugs authorised for sheep.

“We need more time, we probably need more trials to be done, some more research and some more licensing of products,” said Stocker.

The latest indications are that it might be 2028 before rules actually change post the consultation.