The tail of fine-wool sheep is a long-tail type, with coarse hair on the tail. Especially in ewes, the tail hair is more likely to be contaminated by urine and feces. The purpose of tail docking is to keep the tail area clean and sanitary, protecting wool quality. Lambs should be docked within one month after birth.
There are 2 methods.

The ligation method uses a rubber ring tightly tied 4 cm from the root of the tail, blocking blood flow to the lower part of the tail. After 10–15 days, the tail falls off by itself.

The hot docking method is more commonly used. For docking, a special docking spatula and two wooden boards measuring 20 cm square (3–5 cm thick) are needed. A semicircular notch is cut in the center of one end of one wooden board, with iron sheets on both sides. Before the operation, the other wooden board supports the lamb’s back. One person restrains the lamb against the wooden board, while another clamps the base of the lamb’s tail (usually at the fourth coccygeal joint) with the notched wooden board, and cuts the tail with a spatula heated to dark red. The downward cutting speed should not be too fast; forceful methods include the following: