Fox-gal I am uncertain as to why they started docking cow's tails, there was a reason, but my memory fails me yet again, I know when my Dad was farming we were not doing it then.

Yes the shade thing bothers me too, Just imagine having to sit in the heat and not being able to get any shade, also with the tails docked they can not swat the flies away as well, now it has come to me, something to do with the tails either hitting the farmer in the face whilst milking , something along those lines.