IF you can find a vet to do it in the US these days, most will not do it past 4 weeks. You actually do not want to do it too young on these guys, because there are certain ear landmarks that we base our proper crops on. They do not HAVE to be taped, but many vets will send them home that way, and I prefer to leave it as long as possible, just for ease. It can take a couple months for the cartilege to firm up enough to stand on their own. and as an yearling..