Farm Animals

Pig Dental Welfare and Teeth Clipping

Piglet teeth clipping was routine practice to protect sows and siblings but is increasingly replaced by less invasive alternatives.

Key Facts

Newborn piglets have sharp needle teeth that can damage sow teats and littermate faces
Teeth clipping without anaesthesia causes acute pain and potential infection
EU legislation restricts teeth clipping to cases where need is demonstrated
Grinding rather than clipping is less traumatic when intervention is needed
Good sow nutrition and suckling management can reduce the need for intervention

Welfare Considerations

Routine teeth clipping causes unnecessary pain and should not be a default practice. The EU regulatory position - requiring demonstrated need rather than routine application - reflects the welfare evidence. Farms investing in good farrowing management often find intervention unnecessary.

What You Can Do

Support farm assurance standards restricting routine teeth clipping
Advocate for grinding over clipping when intervention is necessary
Choose pork from farms with documented intervention reduction programs