NSA calls for engagement in consultation to reflect reality of commercial sheep farming

The sheep industry must actively engage with Defra’s long-awaited consultation on castration and tail docking methods to ensure future policy reflects the realities of commercial sheep farming, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has said.

Livestock Specialist

20 January 2026 • 2 min read

The consultation, launched by Defra, aims to move the sector towards lower-pain methods and follows a series of recommendations from the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC). However, the NSA has warned that...

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NSA calls for engagement in consultation to reflect reality of commercial sheep farming

The sheep industry must actively engage with Defra’s long-awaited consultation on castration and tail docking methods to ensure future policy reflects the realities of commercial sheep farming, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has said.

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NSA calls for engagement in consultation to reflect reality of commercial sheep farming

The sheep industry must actively engage with Defra’s long-awaited consultation on castration and tail docking methods to ensure future policy reflects the realities of commercial sheep farming, the National Sheep Association (NSA) has said.

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