Phenotyping the Sheep Tail: Histological Depiction of Caudal Spine Structures in Sheep

Abstract

The morphology of sheep tails remains relatively understudied. Given the escalating discourse on routine removal of the caudal spine in sheep, a thorough exploration of the anatomical structures within this region is imperative. To examine the tails in detail, this study undertook histological characterisation of three segments (the cranial, middle, and caudal segments) of the tails of 12 undocked Merino sheep lambs. Six lambs were selected for having short tails (37.1 ± 3.0 cm) while the remaining six were chosen for their long tails (49.4 ± 1.7 cm). Immunohistochemical labelling using neuron-specific enolase antibodies was performed to examine the nerve structures in the tail tip. The general structure of the skin resembles that of other domestic mammals. Interestingly, many sweat and sebaceous glands were found in all three tail segments. These findings support the hypothesis that the tails of sheep play a significant role in thermogenesis and perhaps olfactory communication. The study also revealed nerve fibres extending to the tip of the tail. This observation supports the requirement for pain elimination during tail tip amputation.