Tail biting in pigs causes severe welfare harm and signals poor environmental conditions. Understanding causes enables effective prevention without routine tail docking.
Tail biting is a welfare indicator of environmental inadequacy rather than an inherent behavioral problem. Pigs in environments that prevent expression of their natural rooting and foraging drives redirect these motivations inappropriately, sometimes toward tails of penmates. The wounds caused are painful, can become infected and lead to spinal abscesses, and in severe cases require euthanasia. Routine tail docking — amputation of part of the tail — prevents the worst consequences but does not address the underlying environmental problem and itself causes pain. Enrichment with materials that satisfy rooting behavior, adequate space, stable social groups, and appropriate feeding systems dramatically reduce tail biting without the welfare cost of docking.