The aims of this study were to evaluate four preventive measures and two curative treatments of tail biting.
The preventive measures were: chain, rubber hose, straw rack (5 g/pig/day) and the provision of straw on the floor twice daily by hand (2 × 10 g/pig/day). The two curative treatments, which were applied following the onset of tail biting in a pen were: straw twice daily (as in the fourth preventive measure) and the removal of the biter. In total, 960 undocked weaned piglets (10 piglets per pen) were observed during 5 weeks. Tail lesions (none, bite marks and wounds) were recorded daily.
The incidence of pens with wounded pig tails was significantly lower when straw was provided twice daily (8% of pens) compared to the chain (58% of pens) and rubber hose (54% of pens) treatment, but did not differ significantly from the straw rack treatment (29% of pens). Tails with bite marks were significantly less common in pens with twice daily straw (16% of pens) compared to chain (88% of pens), rubber hose (79% of pens) and straw rack (75% of pens).
No significant difference was found between the curative treatments. Both treatments showed a reduced incidence of red fresh blood on the tails at days 1-9 following curative treatment, compared to day 0. However, neither curative treatment eliminated tail biting entirely.
In conclusion, this study indicates that tail biting is best prevented with a small amount of straw, provided twice daily, and to a lesser extent with a straw rack, compared to providing a chain or a rubber hose. Once tail biting has occurred, providing a small amount of straw twice daily and removing the biter appears to be equally effective.
Johan J. Zonderland, Maaike Wolthuis-Fillerup, Cornelis G. van Reenen, Marc B.M. Bracke, Bas Kemp, Leo A. den Hartog and Hans A.M. Spoolder; Prevention and treatment of tail biting in weaned piglets; Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2007.04.005 Copyright © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.