Although tail docking in female lambs is still performed in Belgian fi eld conditions, the effectivenessof docking and hence the necessity of that procedure are questioned. Tail docking in lambs is a cosmetictreatment rather than a treatment to prevent myiasis. In order to limit myiasis in sheep, the focus mustbe adjusted. The aim of this article is to discuss tail docking in lambs and to focus on alternatives, whichmay or may not be immediately implementable. In this view, veterinarians can advise farmers to takemore effective management measures to reduce myiasis. Frequent monitoring of the animals, limiting thecontamination of the hindquarters, the preventive use of antiparasitic products, shear management and fl ytraps are important tools for this purpose.