Governor signs bill banning dairy cow tail docking

Oct. 16, 2009 - - Legislation that ends the practice of docking the tails of dairy cattle, SB135 by Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter), has been signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. The bill was supported by the Humane Society of the United States, as well as the California Veterinary Medical Association, ASPCA, California Cattlemen’s Association, and California Farm Bureau. Western United Dairymen adopted a neutral position on the bill after forcing the addition of significant amendments.
Historically, tail docking has been used to prevent fecal matter, mud and other contaminants from becoming a problem in milking parlors. Jim Cullor, director of the University of California Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center in Tulare, said that only about 2.5 percent of the state’s 1.5 million dairy cows have had their tails docked.