Tail docking of piglets is performed to prevent tail biting, but it is itself a welfare procedure that causes pain. The EU bans routine docking and requires that alternatives are tried first.
Tail docking is a response to tail biting — itself a welfare problem caused by poor husbandry conditions. Docking causes acute pain and can cause chronic pain from neuroma formation at the wound site. The prohibition on routine docking in EU law reflects the principle that management should address root causes rather than just symptoms. Research consistently shows that providing adequate enrichment (straw, rooting materials), appropriate space, and stable social groups significantly reduces tail biting without the need for docking. The widespread non-compliance with the docking ban represents a systemic welfare and legal failure.