Tail biting in pigs is a serious welfare and economic problem in intensive systems, and effective prevention requires systematic investigation of root causes rather than reactive treatment of victims.
Tail biting is a classic example of a welfare problem that has been managed symptomatically — through tail docking — rather than addressing the underlying causes. Root causes include insufficient resources, overcrowding, inadequate ventilation and lighting, social stress, and ill health. Systematic investigation protocols ask producers to identify which of these factors is present in their specific system and address them directly. Where root causes are effectively managed, tail biting can be controlled without routine docking. The EU legal requirement to avoid routine docking is not widely enforced across all member states, and practical support for producers in conducting root cause analysis is needed to make the regulatory intention a reality. Tail biting investigation should be treated as a welfare audit process, not just a crisis response.