January 15, 2010

Dutch study shows piglet tail behaviour encourages tailbiting

In case piglets carry their tails between their legs, they often become the victims of tailbiting, Dutch research has revealed.

According to the study by Johan Zonderland from the Wageningen University and Research Centre, the Netherlands, nearly 1,000 weaner pigs were observed - of four to 10 weeks old. Pig tails had not been docked and he recorded their positions.

Zonderland noticed that the tails were curled, pointed straight backwards, were wagging or were stuck between the hind legs. The observation was quantified and a quarter of the pigs seen to have their tails between their legs in two observations had serious wounds on their tails three days later. Bite marks from other pigs were found on 32% of these pigs. With their tail between their legs therefore heralds tailbiting.

In this way, pig farmers can recognise and prevent an 'outbreak' of tailbiting. Even throwing handfuls of straw or a toy into the group of pigs twice a day can make a big difference, another of his studies showed.

This all works on the condition that the pig farmer should walk attentively through pig sheds at regular intervals, surveying the pigs' behaviour and their tail positions.

He admitted that this may not be easy in case 3,000 pigs or more are present on-farm. There is, however, no alternative as no generally applicable cause of tail biting has yet been found.