What's happening
This bill prohibits the tail docking of cattle in New York, making it a misdemeanor offense similar to current horse protections.
Why it matters
Expanding animal welfare protections. The bill extends misdemeanor criminal penalties for tail docking—which already apply to horses—to cattle, signaling a stronger commitment to farm animal welfare and aligning with growing public concern over livestock treatment.
Implications for dairy and beef industries. Prohibiting tail docking could require changes in standard practices on New York cattle farms, potentially impacting how farmworkers manage hygiene, animal handling, and herd health, and possibly increasing operational costs or prompting new training.
Legal liability for property owners and workers. Any person who owns, leases, or uses premises where cattle with docked tails are found, or who is present for or assists with tail docking, could face misdemeanor charges, incentivizing stricter oversight and compliance within agricultural operations.
Reflects shifting scientific consensus. The bill acknowledges research indicating that tail docking is painful and unnecessary for cattle health or productivity, aiming to bring state law in line with modern veterinary guidance and animal welfare standards.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Cattle Tail Docking
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
186
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, BENEDETTO, DINOWITZ, LEVENBERG, STECK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to prohibiting tail docking of cattle
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The section heading and subdivision 1 of section 368 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 1047 of the laws of 1965, are amended to read as follows:
Operating upon tails of horses and cattle unlawful. 1. Any person who cuts the bone, tissues, muscles or tendons of the tail of any horse, mare [or], gelding[,] or cattle, or otherwise operates upon it in any manner for the purpose or with the effect of docking, setting, or otherwise altering the natural carriage of the tail, or who knowingly permits the same to be done upon premises of which [he] such person is the owner, lessee, proprietor or user, or who assists in or is voluntarily present at such cutting, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by both. If a horse or a cow is found with the bone, tissues, muscles or tendons of its tail cut as aforesaid and with the wound resulting therefrom unhealed, upon the premises or in the charge and custody of any person, such fact shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the owner or user of such premises or the person having such charge or custody, respectively.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00972-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.