Tail biting and tail docking

This dossier aims to help Competent Authorities and other stakeholders with issues related to tail docking and tail biting of pigs. The dossier is updated periodically by the EURCAW-Pigs team. The text is meant to support Competent Authorities, and is not legally binding.

The legal requirements related to tail docking can be found in two Council Directives, and in two supporting documents from the Commission.

Tail biting is an abnormal behaviour, involving the biting of pigs in the tails of their penmates, resulting in tail injuries. It is a response to boredom, insufficient stimulation, and frustration related to negative environmental and management factors that can increase pigs’ stress levels. Tail biting is a multi-factorial problem, filling up a ‘cumulative risk bucket’. At a certain point, the bucket overflows, and tail biting starts.

The results of recently published studies indicate that slaughter findings may play an important role for a retrospective assessment of certain aspects of animal welfare on farm. However, currently tail lesions recorded at the abattoir in the context of meat inspections do not allow valid conclusions on the occurrence of tail biting on farm (see ‘Show more’).

The current conditions in which weaned pigs are kept are the most important in relation to the development of tail biting behaviour. Evidence for associations between management and housing during suckling and tail biting behaviour is scarce and contradictory (see ‘Show more’).

Welfare indicators can be used to monitor animal welfare on-farm and check compliance with legislation regarding tail docking and tail biting. Tail biting may be assessed on-farm, or post mortem at the slaughterhouse after scalding. Indicators to assess the risks for tail biting cover the six key risk-factor areas. In EURCAW-Pigs’ indicator factsheets, several important welfare indicators are described, by suggesting an inspection and scoring method, and describing the underlying welfare concern and legal requirements.

Active stall fatteners: Adequate enrichment - Smart4Life

BMEL

First aid for tail biting Adequate enrichment - BZL

BZL

Preventing tail biting: see all inspiring examples

In collaboration with national training bodies and national reference centers on animal welfare, EURCAW-Pigs develops training guides for the different welfare topics as standards for national training in EU Member States.