Tail docking in pigs is performed to prevent tail biting, but addresses symptoms rather than causes. Understanding what drives tail biting reveals how to genuinely improve pig welfare.
Tail docking is perhaps the clearest example of a painful mutilation used to mask the symptoms of inadequate housing rather than address root causes. The evidence that tail biting is primarily caused by barren, crowded environments with insufficient enrichment and resources is well-established. Farms that provide adequate straw, appropriate space, varied enrichment, and good stockpersonship consistently maintain undocked pigs without unacceptable rates of tail damage. The persistence of routine docking in 90 per cent of EU pigs despite its legal prohibition reflects the gap between regulation and enforcement, and the economic difficulty of transitioning to housing systems that eliminate the causes of tail biting. Consumer pressure, certification requirements, and regulatory enforcement are all necessary to drive genuine change.