Tail biting in pigs is a severe welfare problem in intensive farming that causes pain, infection, and mortality while reflecting fundamental environmental deficiencies.
Tail biting represents a diagnostic symptom of failed welfare provision rather than an intrinsic behavior problem. When pigs are given adequate space, environmental enrichment, and appropriate social groups, tail biting is rare. The widespread industry response — prophylactic tail docking — removes the symptom while leaving underlying conditions unchanged, and itself causes acute pain. Genuine solutions require addressing root causes: providing manipulable materials for rooting and chewing, reducing stocking density, improving nutritional balance, and ensuring adequate ventilation. Farms that invest in enrichment and better environments routinely report lower tail biting rates alongside improved productivity.