Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Tail Docking and Alternatives

Tail docking of piglets is widely practised to prevent tail biting, but is considered a mutilation and should be replaced by addressing root causes.

Key Facts

EU law prohibits routine tail docking but derogations allow widespread practice
Tail biting causes severe wounds and infection in affected pigs
Root causes of tail biting include high stocking density, poor enrichment, and inadequate nutrition
Straw and rooting materials are the most effective preventive measures
Some countries have successfully raised pigs without docking through systems changes

Welfare Considerations

Tail docking removes the symptom of a systems failure rather than the cause. The pain of docking, combined with the ongoing risk of tail biting in barren systems, means that addressing root causes through enrichment and space is the only lasting welfare solution.

What You Can Do

Choose pork from undocked pig systems where available
Support campaigns to end routine tail docking
Advocate for regulatory enforcement of existing tail docking restrictions