Abstract: Limit the Occurrence of Bites and Persist

Type and Average of Pigs on the Farm

The farm maintains approximately 300 sows, 1,000 weaners and 1,997 grower-finishers.

Farming System

Intensive, small-scale production system.

Description and Evaluation of the Good Practice

Eight years ago the farmers stopped tail docking to avoid adding to working time at farrowing. To identify risk factors, batches of long-tailed and docked piglets were alternated for six months. In post-weaning, key risk factors identified were ventilation, draughts, water and feed access, flies and density; concrete slatted flooring replaced wire and a rubber mat was added near the feeder. In fattening, ventilation temperatures were lowered from 23°C to 17°C, meals increased from 3 to 4 per day, and density reduced by removing 2 pigs per pen 3 weeks before slaughter. The farmers consider air quality essential: manure is removed regularly through recycling, pen partitions are open-slatted, and buildings are well-insulated to promote air renewal.

Farm Context

• Environmental Enrichment Basic enrichment consists of 1 chain and 1 bite disc in post-weaning, or 1 toy in fattening. In case of biting, cotton or coconut rope, jute cloth, a toy and large alfalfa pellets are provided depending on pig age. No bedding material is used.
• Pigs Tail docking rate is 0%. All pigs are undocked.
• Housing and Management Characteristics Stocking density is 0.3 m²/pig in post-weaning and 0.69 m²/pig in fattening. Post-weaning pens start with 30 pigs, reducing to 25 after 2 weeks; fattening pens have 13 pigs with 2 removed 3 weeks before slaughter. The flooring is slatted and slurry is recycled. No outdoor access is provided. Feeding is dry ad libitum in post-weaning and liquid with 4 meals per day in fattening, using a diet produced on the farm.
• Management Practices Pigs are grouped by sex and weight. Post-weaning is monitored with 2 visits per day and fattening with 1 visit per day. Tail biting monitoring is based on blood presence and tail position. The intervention protocol consists of providing enrichment objects and large alfalfa pellets; rubber rings are placed on wounds; and the biter is moved to another pen if identified.
• Economic Analysis 0.5% of pigs died due to tail biting; loss and seizure rate: 6.3%. Average daily gain: 678 g/day; feed efficiency: 2.28; age at slaughter: 175 days. Time spent monitoring and intervening is less than time previously spent on tail docking. Additional enrichment costs are approximately €3,100 per year; no additional income is obtained.
• Environmental Analysis This practice has no effect on manure quantity and quality, greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia emissions or water usage.
• Replicable Benefits and Relevance for Other EU Countries This method is suitable for farms where there were no bites on docked pigs. It requires perseverance, as problems may occur in some batches. Working on large batches and alternating docked and long-tailed pigs is recommended to identify farm-specific risk factors before extending the practice.