Using an elastrator, rubber bands are placed around the tail at the desired location. The tail will fall off within the next two to four weeks. Removing tails can be done to any age animal with little stress. Tails have been docked from whole herds, milking and dry cows as well as heifers. These herds saw no drop in milk production.
Some producers prefer to wait until the cow goes dry to put on the elastrator band.
The tail will have dropped off long before she is ready to freshen again. The age that tails are removed from heifers is dependent on individual management systems. A few producers begin docking when heifers are a few weeks of age. Others wait until the heifers are ready for breeding or just prior to freshening. It is recommended to allow approximately one third of the tail to remain.