Tail docking in pigs is performed routinely in many countries to prevent tail biting, yet evidence strongly supports enrichment-based alternatives that eliminate both tail biting and the welfare cost of docking.
The welfare paradox of tail docking is that it creates a painful procedure to prevent a painful outcome, while the underlying cause — environmental frustration — goes unaddressed. Evidence from countries and farms operating without routine docking demonstrates that enrichment, stocking density management, and adequate feed space can eliminate tail biting as a production problem. The welfare-optimal solution is to address root causes rather than applying a painful prophylactic procedure that treats the symptom.