Rearing Pigs with Intact Tails—Experiences and Practical Solutions in Sweden

Tail biting is a common issue within commercial pig production. It is mainly an indicator of inadequate housing environment and results in reduced health welfare and production. To reduce the impact of tail biting, pigs are commonly tail docked, without pain relief, within the first week of life. EU...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Animals
Main Authors:	Torun Wallgren, Nils Lundeheim, Anna Wallenbeck, Rebecka Westin, Stefan Gunnarsson
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	MDPI AG 2019-10-01
Subjects:	welfare swine tail-docking tail-biting
Online Access:	https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/10/812

Similar Items

Effect of Straw Provision in Racks on Tail Lesions, Straw Availability, and Pen Hygiene in Finishing Pigs
by: Torun Wallgren, et al.
Published: (2021-02-01)

Why are most EU pigs tail docked? Economic and ethical analysis of four pig housing and management scenarios in the light of EU legislation and animal welfare outcomes
by: R.B. D’Eath, et al.
Published: (2016-01-01)

Editorial: Holistic prevention strategies for tail biting in pigs; from farm to slaughterhouse
by: Richard B. D'Eath, et al.
Published: (2023-11-01)

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Tail Length and Tail Kinks in Piglets
by: Katharina Gerhards, et al.
Published: (2025-02-01)

Greek Pig Farmers’ Perceptions and Experiences of Tail Biting and Tail Docking
by: Michail Kakanis, et al.
Published: (2023-02-01)

Implementation of Straw Racks in Commercial Pig Housing—Impact on Straw Availability and Pig Behaviour
by: Torun Wallgren, et al.
Published: (2021-12-01)

Description of patterns of ear and tail lesions during the grower-finisher period in a commercial pig farm
by: Nienke van Staaveren, et al.
Published: (2024-06-01)

The effect of docking length on the risk of tail biting, tail-directed behaviour, aggression and activity level of growing pigs kept under commercial conditions
by: K. Thodberg, et al.
Published: (2018-01-01)

Pig tail length is associated with the prevalence of tail malformations but not with inflammation of the tail
by: Christiane Egerer, et al.
Published: (2025-02-01)

Tail-Biting in Pigs: A Scoping Review
by: Maggie Henry, et al.
Published: (2021-07-01)

Swine Inflammation and Necrosis Syndrome (SINS)
by: Gerald Reiner, et al.
Published: (2021-06-01)

Skin Temperature of Slaughter Pigs With Tail Lesions
by: Dayane Lemos Teixeira, et al.
Published: (2020-04-01)

Evaluating social network metrics as indicators of tail injury caused by tail biting in growing-finishing pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus)
by: Kaitlyn M. St. Charles, et al.
Published: (2024-09-01)

The Relationship between Carcass Condemnations and Tail Lesion in Swine Considering Different Production Systems and Tail Lengths
by: Alice Gomes, et al.
Published: (2022-04-01)

Interactive Rooting Towers and Behavioural Observations as Strategies to Reduce Tail Biting on Conventional Pig Fattening Farms
by: Anne Kalies, et al.
Published: (2021-10-01)

Tail docking in pigs: acute physiological and behavioural responses
by: M.A. Sutherland, et al.
Published: (2008-01-01)

The Effect of Straw, Rope, and Bite-Rite Treatment in Weaner Pens with a Tail Biting Outbreak
by: Helle Pelant Lahrmann, et al.
Published: (2019-06-01)

Observations on the associations between damaging and aggressive behaviors, related lesions, and their implications for the welfare of pigs in the grower-finisher period
by: Lucy Markland, et al.
Published: (2025-03-01)

Tail Lesions and Losses of Docked and Undocked Pigs in Different Farrowing and Rearing Systems
by: Maria Gentz, et al.
Published: (2020-04-01)

Tail Docking of Piglets 1: Stress Response of Piglets to Tail Docking
by: Rebecca Morrison, et al.
Published: (2020-09-01)

Osteomyelitis in Pig Carcasses at a Portuguese Slaughterhouse: Association with Tail-Biting and Teeth Resection
by: Pedro Teiga-Teixeira, et al.
Published: (2024-06-01)

Can straw based enrichment treat tail biting in pigs?
by: Abigail Liston
Published: (2022-07-01)

Understanding Tail-Biting in Pigs through Social Network Analysis
by: Yuzhi Li, et al.
Published: (2018-01-01)

Review: Piglets’ (Re)Feeding Patterns, Mineral Metabolism, and Their Twisty Tail
by: Theo van Kempen, et al.
Published: (2025-07-01)

Scientific Opinion on the use of animal‐based measures to assess welfare in pigs
by: EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)
Published: (2012-01-01)

Tail Docking of Piglets 2: Effects of Meloxicam on the Stress Response to Tail Docking
by: Rebecca Morrison, et al.
Published: (2020-09-01)

Rearing Undocked Pigs on Fully Slatted Floors Using Multiple Types and Variations of Enrichment
by: Jen-Yun Chou, et al.
Published: (2019-04-01)

On-Farm Welfare Assessment Protocol for Suckling Piglets: A Pilot Study
by: Marika Vitali, et al.
Published: (2020-06-01)

Non-ambulatory pigs in two Brazilian growing-finishing farms: a clinic, etiological and pathological perspective on 76 cases
by: Manoela Marchezan Piva, et al.
Published: (2022-08-01)

Health parameters in tail biters and bitten pigs in a case–control study
by: C. Munsterhjelm, et al.
Published: (2013-01-01)

The Prevalence of Tail Alterations on German Dairy Farms
by: Rieke Claussen, et al.
Published: (2025-09-01)

Old breeds, new solutions? Effects of two different traditional sire breeds on skin lesions, tail lesions, tail losses, performance and behaviour of rearing pigs
by: A. Lange, et al.
Published: (2023-03-01)

A High Enrichment Replenishment Rate Reduces Damaging Behaviors and Increases Growth Rate in Undocked Pigs Kept in Fully Slatted Pens
by: Jen-Yun Chou, et al.
Published: (2020-11-01)

Bite-o-Mat: a device for the early detection of tail biting in pigs
by: Josefine Eisermann, et al.
Published: (2025-08-01)

Effects of Different Housing Systems during Suckling and Rearing Period on Skin and Tail Lesions, Tail Losses and Performance of Growing and Finishing Pigs
by: Anita Lange, et al.
Published: (2021-07-01)

Tail docking in horses: a review of the issues
by: D. Lefebvre, et al.
Published: (2007-01-01)

Fine Mapping Identifies Candidate Genes Associated with Swine Inflammation and Necrosis Syndrome
by: Katharina Gerhards, et al.
Published: (2025-05-01)

Undocked Tails, Mycoplasma-like Lesions and Gastric Ulcers in Slaughtering Pigs: What Connection?
by: Annalisa Scollo, et al.
Published: (2023-01-01)

The Use of Garlic Oil for Olfactory Enrichment Increases the Use of Ropes in Weaned Pigs
by: Nicola Blackie, et al.
Published: (2019-04-01)

Is There a Link between Suckling and Manipulation Behavior during Rearing in Pigs?
by: Friederike K. Warns, et al.
Published: (2021-04-01)