Tail docking of piglets is routinely practiced to prevent tail biting in overcrowded conditions, treating the symptom rather than addressing the cause.
Tail docking in pigs is a welfare intervention that creates a welfare problem to address another welfare problem. The root cause of tail biting — environments that fail to meet pigs basic behavioral needs — is not addressed by docking. Pigs need rooting material, space, and enrichment. Systems that provide these conditions can maintain intact tails without significant biting. The EU ban on routine docking has rarely been enforced, representing a significant failure of animal welfare regulation.