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Sheep: Animal Welfare

Asked by Neil Duncan-JordanLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 2 July 2026UIN 13430

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to prohibit the routine castration and tail docking of lambs.

Answered by Stephen Morgan

A consultation on lamb castration and tail docking closed on 9 March. The proposals the Government consulted on did not include a ban on the use of castration and tail docking. Instead, the Government proposed that, where a procedure is considered to be necessary, then it should be carried out using methods that do not cause significant pain, or suitable pain relief should also be provided. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

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