In Ireland, tail-docking is still the most utilised control mechanism to combat tail biting, but biting is still widespread even in tail-docked pigs. In addition, as pig farms are almost all fully slatted, bedding type material cannot be provided. Thus, the opinions, and practices of farmers in countries like Ireland, which may need to make significant adaptations to typical pig management systems soon..
Fifty-eight farmers from 21 Counties responded with an average herd size of 710 ± 597 sows (range 90–3000 sows). Only two farms had experienced no biting in the last year. Of the farms that had experienced tail biting (88%), 86% had also experienced ear biting.
Ear biting occurred most commonly in the 2nd stage (approximately 47–81 days from weaning) weaner and tail biting in the finishing stage.
( only )Sixty-fivepercent of respondents added additional enrichment following an outbreak [ of biting ].
Despite widespread tail docking (>99% of pigs) evidence of tail biting is prevalent in Irish pig production, with tail lesions observed in 58.1 and 72.5% of pigs at the abattoirs. More recently, moderate and severe (complete removal of the tail) lesions were observed in 25.2 and 3.1% of Irish abattoir pigs. The proportion of Irish pigs with ‘moderate’ damage is like the 34.6% of Finnish pigs observed to have tail damage
In both Finland and Sweden tail docking is forbidden, and thus the lower levels of tail injury are likely due to better management than in Irish pig farms. For instance, in Sweden there is a ban on fully slatted floors in all pig housing, as well as higher standards for air quality and light provision than the EU standard.
Tail biting injuries can be minor, or so severe that the tail is bitten to the rump and the animal may need to be euthanized.
Victims are also likely to suffer more frequently from other health disorders than pigs with non-bitten tails (leg disorders and arthritis. Secondary infection may occur in the lungs, and less commonly in the kidneys and other parts of the body, as a result of pyaemia [15]. Furthermore, wounds caused by tail biting can lead to an increased risk of infection and have been associated with being important in the primary transmission of trichinosis [15].
Factors such as stress , restricted feed access, insufficient diet , high stocking density, early weaning , poor ventilation/incorrect temperature , breed and lack of enrichment are all hypothesised to play a part in causing biting outbreaks. Indeed 25 different hazards were used in the EFSA [33] risk assessment for tail biting, and 83 risk factors were identified by Taylor et al. [34] using a combination of literature review and expert opinion.
Condemnation ( the throwing way of unusable carcasses that have sustained too much damage , while the pig was alive ) and loss of productivity remained the biggest concerns [ of the farmers ] with both receiving an average of 4 (most serious). Condemnation in particular was given a score of 4 (most serious) by 79% of respondents. Other negatives (21%) discussed included the pressure on already limited space caused by having to isolate pigs, the welfare of the bitten pigs and loosing pigs due to paralysis.
https://porcinehealthmanagement.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40813-019-0135-8
The Minister of Agriculture prohibited the docking of dogs' tails in the 2014 statute.
It's shouldn't be an ethical quandary for the consumer really. When you know about what the animals are subjected to and the suffering, you simply boycott the products.
Use a plant-based alternative.
https://freefromharm.org/vegan-recipes/vegan-bacon/
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