Tail biting in pigs is a major welfare indicator that reflects inadequate environments and manifests as a painful and often fatal welfare problem requiring root cause management.
Tail biting causes acute pain when the tail is first damaged and progresses to severe infection, abscesses, and septicaemia that cause ongoing suffering and often death. The biting pig is also in a welfare-compromised state with redirected oral behaviour indicating unmet needs. Prevention through addressing root causes (straw, space, enrichment) is both more humane and more effective than reactive docking. Tail biting is a welfare indicator of system failure.