Lamb Welfare: Consultation on proposed changes to castration and tail docking methods (Lles Ŵyn: Ymgynghoriad ar newidiadau arfaethedig i ddulliau ysbaddu a thocio cynffonnau)
Overview (Trosolwg)
Scope
We are seeking views on reforming the legislation on lamb castration and tail docking.
Animal welfare is a devolved policy responsibility. We are proposing that reforms to lamb castration and tail docking would be implemented on a UK-wide basis, so that a consistent approach is adopted across the UK. The proposals outlined in this consultation relate to the relevant legislation on lamb castration and tail docking in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Our policy proposals relate to sheep under all husbandry systems. The word ‘sheep’ refers to all ovine stock, and an animal under 6 months is considered to be a lamb.
Audience
Anyone may respond to the consultation. Those who may have an interest include:
- academic institutions
- animal welfare organisations
- consumers
- farm assurance schemes
- farming organisations
- livestock markets or auctioneers
- local authorities (LAs)
- retailers
- sheep abattoirs
- sheep farmers
- trade bodies
- the veterinary profession
Responding to the consultation
This consultation starts on 12 January 2026 and closes on 9 March 2026. Any responses received after this date will not be analysed.
Please respond to this consultation using the Citizen Space consultation hub.
If you are unable to use Citizen Space, you can download the consultation documents and return your response by email to Lamb-Castration-and-Tail-Docking@defra.gov.uk or in writing to:
Lamb Castration and Tail Docking Consultation, Farm Animal Welfare Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole Building 2nd Floor, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
Please note, any responses sent by post must have arrived at the above address by the closing date of the consultation (9 March 2026) to be counted. Any responses received after this date will not be analysed. To ensure your response is included in the analysis, please consider responding electronically, either online via Citizen Space or by email.
We recognise that respondents may choose to use some standardised text to inform their response. Campaigns are when organisations (or individuals) coordinate responses across their membership or support base, often by suggesting a set of wording for respondents to use. Campaign responses are usually very similar or identical to each other. For this consultation, campaign responses may be analysed separately to other responses to ensure the breadth of views received can be summarised effectively and efficiently. All campaign responses will be taken into account in the final analysis of public views and campaigns help provide an indication of the strength of feeling on an issue. The preferred route for all respondents to provide their views (including where a response is based on a campaign) is via the Citizen Space consultation hub.
Cwmpas
Rydym yn ceisio barn ar ddiwygio'r ddeddfwriaeth ar ysbaddu ŵyn a thocio cynffonnau.
Mae lles anifeiliaid yn gyfrifoldeb polisi datganoledig. Rydym yn cynnig y byddai diwygiadau i ysbaddu ŵyn a thocio cynffonnau yn cael eu rhoi ar waith ledled y DU, er mwyn mabwysiadu dull gweithredu cyson ledled y DU. Mae'r cynigion a amlinellir yn yr ymgynghoriad hwn yn ymwneud â'r ddeddfwriaeth berthnasol ar ysbaddu ŵyn a thocio cynffonnau yng Nghymru, Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon.
Mae ein cynigion polisi yn ymwneud â defaid o dan bob system hwsmonaeth. Mae'r gair 'defaid' yn cyfeirio at bob stoc o deulu’r ddafad, ac mae anifail o dan 6 mis oed yn cael ei ystyried yn oen.
Cynulleidfa
Gall unrhyw un ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad. Mae'r rhai a allai fod â diddordeb yn cynnwys:
- sefydliadau academaidd
- sefydliadau lles anifeiliaid
- defnyddwyr
- cynlluniau gwarant fferm
- sefydliadau ffermio
- marchnadoedd da byw neu arwerthwyr
- awdurdodau lleol (ALlau)
- adwerthwyr
- lladd-dai defaid
- ffermwyr defaid
- cyrff masnach
- y proffesiwn milfeddygol
Ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad
Bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn dechrau ar 12 January 2026 ac yn dod i ben ar 9 March 2026. Ni fydd ymatebion a ddaw i law ar ôl y dyddiad hwn yn cael eu dadansoddi.
Ymatebwch i'r ymgynghoriad hwn drwy ddefnyddio hyb ymgynghori Citizen Space.
Os nad ydych chi'n gallu defnyddio Citizen Space, gallwch lawrlwytho'r dogfennau ymgynghori a dychwelyd eich ymateb drwy e-bost at Lamb-Castration-and-Tail-Docking@defra.gov.uk neu'n ysgrifenedig at:
Lamb Castration and Tail Docking Consultation, Farm Animal Welfare Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole Building 2nd Floor, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
Sylwch, rhaid i unrhyw ymatebion sy’n cael eu hanfon drwy’r post gyrraedd y cyfeiriad uchod erbyn dyddiad cau’r ymgynghoriad (9 March 2026) er mwyn cael eu cyfrif. Ni fydd ymatebion a ddaw i law ar ôl y dyddiad hwn yn cael eu dadansoddi. Er mwyn sicrhau bod eich ymateb yn cael ei gynnwys yn y dadansoddiad, ystyriwch ymateb yn electronig, naill ai ar-lein drwy Citizen Space neu drwy e-bost.
Rydym yn cydnabod y gall ymatebwyr ddewis defnyddio rhywfaint o destun safonol ar gyfer eu hymateb. Ymgyrchoedd yw pan fydd sefydliadau (neu unigolion) yn cydlynu ymatebion ar draws eu haelodau neu eu cefnogwyr, yn aml drwy awgrymu geiriad i ymatebwyr ei ddefnyddio. Mae ymatebion ymgyrchu fel arfer yn debyg iawn neu’n union yr un fath â’i gilydd. Ar gyfer yr ymgynghoriad hwn, gellir dadansoddi ymatebion ymgyrchu ar wahân i ymatebion eraill i sicrhau bod modd crynhoi ehangder y safbwyntiau a gafwyd yn effeithiol ac yn effeithlon. Bydd yr holl ymatebion ymgyrchu yn cael eu hystyried yn y dadansoddiad terfynol o farn y cyhoedd ac mae ymgyrchoedd yn helpu i roi syniad o gryfder y teimlad ar fater. Y llwybr sy’n cael ei ffafrio i’r holl ymatebwyr roi eu barn (gan gynnwys lle mae ymateb yn seiliedig ar ymgyrch) yw drwy hyb Citizen Space.