Sunday June 28, 2009, 7:45 am
The solid parts of cows' tails are sometimes cut off, especially at dairies, with the intention of reducing disease and increasing milk quality.

But advocates, led by the Humane Society, argued Tuesday that there is no scientific justification for this practice, and veterinarians' representatives agreed.

About 10 percent of the state's 1,800 dairies continue to perform intentional tail docking, Western United Dairymen lobbyist Gary Conover said.

He said his organization doesn't support the "archaic" practice.

Senate Bill 135, however, was approved only after Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, the author, agreed to an amendment that partially addressed the concern of farm groups about emergencies.

Initially at the committee, the bill would have allowed a veterinarian to dock a cow's tail to save the animal's life or relieve pain.

But Conover and representatives of the Farm Bureau and other groups argued that sometimes it takes hours or days for a veterinarian to reach a farm, causing extended pain or risk for a cow.

Instead, the farm groups pushed to give dairy and ranch operators the authority to dock the tail in such emergencies, and Florez agreed.

"You can do the procedure," Florez said, but he called for notice to state agricultural officials. "Just let us know 30 days hence that you did it."

Farm lobbyists balked at the notice requirement, saying that it could lead to fees to cover any related costs, but the bill was approved with that provision.

SB 135 passed the Assembly Committee on Public Safety and next goes to the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 8:11 am
What a cruel practice. Now if we can just get other jurisdictions to ban this torture. The cruelty isn't just in the procedure, it is an enduring cruelty; after a tail is docked, the cow is no longer able to use it to swish flies away or scratch an itch with it.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 8:34 am
This makes me soooooooo mad. They need their tails docked.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 8:34 am
Thank you Cowboss for telling everyone about the agony cows go through. Education is the first step in ending all the cruel practices against farm animals......Change will come one grain of sand at a time.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 9:11 am
:( Thanks Cowboss.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 9:12 am
Very, very cruel! Thank you Cowboss for keeping us all updated.

Sunday June 28, 2009, 1:29 pm
Thank you Cowboss-I'd love to see the perpetrator's have their tails docked...

Sunday June 28, 2009, 2:58 pm
i do wonder how they're going to determine, after the fact, whether or not a cow was in pain.

Monday June 29, 2009, 2:31 am
thanks cowboss cows need their tails

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 3:19 am
Thanxxx so nice that there is someone on their side.... it is cruel to dock a cows tail, and this should be banned...

Tuesday June 30, 2009, 10:51 am
Bravo Gary Conover. Cows need their tails to switch pests away and keep more comfortable; a comfortable cow is a happy cow... we need more responsible farm folks like this guy! Thanks Cowboss.

Monday July 6, 2009, 1:19 pm
I agree the the HUSU aNd the veteranarians. What are these people thinking? Oh yea, mo' $$, so they think!
I hope they get it banned.
TX Cowboss