What is the process of removing the tail of sheep or swine at an early age for health purposes called?

The process of removing the tail of sheep or swine at an early age for health purposes is referred to as docking. This procedure is typically performed to prevent health issues, such as flystrike in sheep, where flies lay eggs in the wool around the tail area, leading to serious infections. By docking the tail, this risk is significantly reduced, promoting better hygiene and health for the animal.

In the case of swine, docking can help prevent tail biting among pigs, a behavior that can lead to injury and infection. Performing this procedure at a young age minimizes discomfort and enables quicker recovery.

The other choices relate to different procedures: castrating refers to the removal of the testicles to prevent reproduction, spaying is a term used primarily in female animals for the removal of the ovaries and uterus, and weaning refers to the process of transitioning young animals from their mother's milk to solid feed. Each of these terms addresses a specific aspect of animal care and management, but only docking directly pertains to the removal of the tail for health purposes.