Wednesday, August 2, 2006

24 Lambs Disqualified at County Fair

According to the Carroll County Times, 24 lambs were disqualified at this week's Carroll County Fair in Westminster, Maryland. Their tails were too short.

The Maryland 4-H Program requires that lamb tails be at least 0.7 inches long at the time of show. The 0.7 inch rule was developed based on research that showed that short-docked lambs are more likely to develop rectal prolapses.

A committee of three judges used a state-approved measuring device to determine tail length at the fair. This is the 4th year of a 4-H tail docking policy in Maryland.

Tail Length and Incidence of Rectal Prolapse in Lambs
A Candid Discussion on the Tail Docking Controversy
Where to Dock Lambs' Tails

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