Implementation of existing knowledge on tail biting by the development and evaluation of prevention and outbreak husbandry advisory tools
Whichever actions are tried, the key is to do something as soon as possible, before more tails are bitten, before lesions become more severe with infection setting in, and before more pigs develop the habit of biting tails. Whilst dealing with an outbreak it’s also worth considering what triggered the behaviour in that particular batch of pigs to help prevent it in the next batch.
Units from seven producer groups have been involved in the
project jointly funded by BPEX and the RSPCA aimed at reducing the risk of
tail biting in commercial units. 65 units were recruited for the project, each
receiving between 2 and 4 visits between 2007 and
2009.