Tail biting is a major welfare problem in commercial pig production that is typically addressed through painful tail docking rather than the environmental and management changes that address the underlying causes.
Tail biting represents a welfare crisis in pig production caused primarily by inadequate environments that prevent expression of the rooting and exploratory behaviors that pigs are highly motivated to perform. Tail docking addresses the symptom by removing the target rather than the cause, while itself causing pain and potential long-term sensitivity at the docking site. The failure to implement the EU tail docking ban reflects the economic challenge of providing adequate enrichment in intensive systems. Genuine solutions require environmental enrichment, reduced stocking density, and improved pig management.