Tail biting in pigs is a serious welfare problem that causes pain and sometimes death. Routine tail docking prevents injury but does not address its causes, and alternatives are available.
Tail biting and the tail docking intended to prevent it both cause suffering — one acute, one chronic. Tail docking at birth without analgesia causes pain, and the remaining tail stump retains sensitivity, meaning bitten stumps can be just as painful as full tails. The real solution is addressing the behavioral and environmental root causes of tail biting: barren environments, overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, and social stress. Countries that have committed to enrichment-based management demonstrate that tail docking is not necessary for commercial production. The continued widespread use of routine docking reflects a management choice that prioritizes simplicity over animal welfare, when evidence-based alternatives are available and economically viable.