Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Teeth Clipping and Welfare

Teeth clipping of piglets is practised to prevent teat and facial injuries in litter siblings, but causes pain and carries infection risk.

Key Facts

Newborn piglets have sharp needle teeth that can injure their siblings and the sow's teats
Teeth clipping removes these teeth shortly after birth
The procedure causes acute pain if performed without anaesthesia
Grinding rather than clipping is associated with less dental damage
Alternative management approaches can reduce needle tooth injuries without clipping

Welfare Considerations

Teeth clipping causes acute pain in newborn piglets and is only justified when needle tooth injuries are a significant welfare problem in a herd. Grinding rather than clipping, combined with management of competitive suckling, can reduce needle tooth injuries with less welfare cost than clipping. Routine teeth clipping without demonstrated necessity is not a welfare-positive practice.

What You Can Do

Support welfare guidance discouraging routine teeth clipping
Advocate for teeth clipping to require veterinary justification
Choose pork from farms with documented management of needle teeth alternatives