Written question asked by Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 2 July 2026. It was answered by Stephen Morgan (Labour) on Friday, 3 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Sheep: Animal Welfare

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the scientific evidence on the welfare impacts of routine tail docking and castration in lambs.

Answer: The Government considered the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the Implications of Castration and Tail Docking for the Welfare of Lambs including the scientific evidence prior to issuing a UK-wide consultation on proposals to improve the welfare of lambs earlier this year. Consultation proposals included seeking views on the use of pain relief and those circumstances when castration or tail docking should only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. We are currently analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

Secondary information