Update on Tail biting in pigs: An undesirable damaging behaviour

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.26745
Keywords:
tail biting pig health pig welfare pig behaviour
M KAKANIS
Department of Veterinary Services, Directorate of Rural Economy and Veterinary Services, Regional Unit of Pieria, Katerini, Greece
EN SOSSIDOU
Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Demeter, Thessaloniki, Greece
SK KRITAS
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
ED TZIKA
Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Abstract

Tail-biting is an abnormal behavior of multifactorial origin, that consists a major problem in modern pig industry. It has a serious impact on both welfare and health status of the pigs involved, as well as on economic profitability of the farm. It is considered to be a problem of pig adaptation in poor environment triggered by a plethora of external and internal risk factors interacting with each other. A great variation exists on prevalence of tail biting between different studies across the world. Tail docking is the common practice applied by farmers to prevent this behavior, while treatments are based on enrichment material provision. The aim of this review is to explore the most recent literature on risk factors and impacts of tail biting and to discuss promising areas on early prediction and treatment of the topic.

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