Tail biting behaviour and tail damage in pigs and the relationship with general behaviour: Predicting the inevitable?

AbstractThe development of adverse behaviour in group–housed growing/ finishing pigs with intact tails was studied in a straw–flow housing system and in a part–slatted system with a commercial enrichment object. Food intake, body weight and behaviour were monitored over the finishing period, with tail biting outbreaks defined as an occasion where three or more pigs within a group had freshly damaged tails and tail biting behaviour was ongoing. Data from the two systems were analysed to identify tail–biting outbreaks and behavioural changes over time. Levels of pig manipulation were higher in the part–slatted system. Over time, pigs in both systems showed reduced interest in the enrichment provided, but not in each other. Despite the presence of the enrichment device, tail biting occurred in all groups in the part–slatted system, but only 1/12 groups in the straw–flow system. The amount of time occupied by manipulation of the enrichment provided was very significantly higher for straw than for the commercial object. Better design of enrichment strategies is therefore needed and should be based on species–relevant requirements.

Download Full-text

Identification of chromosomal locations associated with tail biting and being a victim of tail-biting behaviour in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Journal of Applied Genetics ◽

10.1007/s13353-012-0112-2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 449-456 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Kaitlin Wilson ◽

Ricardo Zanella ◽

Carlos Ventura ◽

Hanne Lind Johansen ◽

Tore Framstad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sus Scrofa ◽

Domestic Pig ◽

Tail Biting ◽

Sus Scrofa Domesticus ◽

Biting Behaviour

Download Full-text

The Relationship Between Tail Biting in Pigs, Docking Procedure and Other Management Practices

The Veterinary Journal ◽

10.1053/tvjl.2000.0520 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 161 (1) ◽

pp. 72-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

E.J. HUNTER ◽

T.A. JONES ◽

H.J. GUISE ◽

R.H.C. PENNY ◽

S. HOSTE

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Tail Biting ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

The Effect of Straw, Rope, and Bite-Rite Treatment in Weaner Pens with a Tail Biting Outbreak

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9060365 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 365 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Helle Pelant Lahrmann ◽

Julie Fabricius Faustrup ◽

Christian Fink Hansen ◽

Rick B. D’Eath ◽

Jens Peter Nielsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Effective Treatment ◽

Tail Biting ◽

Tail Damage ◽

Allocation Strategies

Tail biting in pigs is an injurious behaviour that spreads rapidly in a group. We investigated three different treatments to stop ongoing tail biting outbreaks in 65 pens of 6–30 kg undocked pigs (30 pigs per pen; SD = 2): (1) straw (7 g/pig/day on the floor), (2) rope, and (3) Bite-Rite (a hanging plastic device with chewable rods). Pigs were tail scored three times weekly, until an outbreak occurred (four pigs with a tail wound; day 0) and subsequently once weekly. After an outbreak had occurred, a subsequent escalation in tail damage was defined if four pigs with a fresh tail wound were identified or if a biter had to be removed. Straw prevented an escalation better (75%) than Bite-Rite (35%; p < 0.05), and rope was intermediate (65%). Upon introduction of treatments (day 0), pigs interacted less with tails than before (day −1; p < 0.05). Behavioural observations showed that pigs engaged more with rope than Bite-Rite (p < 0.05). Bite-Rite pigs (but not straw or rope) increased their interaction with tails between day 0 and day 7 (p < 0.05). Straw was the most effective treatment. However, further investigations may identify materials or allocation strategies which are more effective still.

Download Full-text

Factors identifying pigs predisposed to tail biting

Animal Science ◽

10.1079/asc40040307 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 80 (3) ◽

pp. 307-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

V. E. Beattie ◽

K. Breuer ◽

N. E. O'Connell ◽

I. A. Sneddon ◽

J. T. Mercer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Foraging Behaviour ◽

Saline Solution ◽

Production Performance ◽

The Other ◽

Lower Growth ◽

Tail Biting ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Uk ◽

Biting Behaviour

AbstractApproximately 5% of pigs slaughtered in the UK have been tail-bitten, leading to welfare and production issues. Tail biting is sporadic and not all pigs tail bite. The aim of this study was to identify factors that are common in pigs that perform tail-biting behaviour, and that might be used in a predictive way to identify such animals.The behaviour of 159 pigs was observed in the post-weaning period. Pigs were weaned at 4 weeks of age. In the week prior to weaning and at 6 weeks of age each pig was individually tested in a tail chew test (tail chew test 1 and 2, respectively). The tail chew test involved recording the pig's behaviour directed towards two ropes, one of which had been soaked in saline solution and the other not. The production performance of the pigs was recorded from birth to 7 weeks of age. Time spent performing tail-biting behaviour correlated positively with time in contact with the rope in tail chew test 2 (r = 0·224, P < 0·05), and time spent ear biting correlated positively with time spent in rope directed behaviour in tail chew test 1 (r = 0·248, P < 0·01). Pigs that spent as much as 1·5% of their time of more performing tail-biting behaviour were lighter at weaning (26 days) and tended to be lighter at 7 weeks of age compared with pigs that spent less than 1·5% of their time performing tail-biting behaviour (weaning weight: ≥1·5% tail biting 8·96 kg, <1·5% tail biting 9·67 kg, P < 0·05; 7-week weight: ≥1·5% tail biting 15·75 kg, <1·5% tail biting 17·09 kg, P < 0·08). There was no significant difference in birth weight between pigs that spent ≥ or <1·5% of their time performing tail-biting behaviour. Pigs that spent 1·5% of their time or more performing tail-biting behaviour showed significantly lower growth rates between birth and weaning (≥1·5% tail biting 260 g/day, <1·5% tail biting 285 g/day, P < 0·05) but not between weaning and 7 weeks of age (≥1·5% tail biting 343 g/day, <1·5% tail biting 365 g/day, P > 0·05).The results suggest that pigs that tail bite have some nutritional deficiency that results in performance of foraging behaviour that is expressed in intensive housing as ear/tail biting.

Download Full-text

A computer vision-based method for spatial-temporal action recognition of tail-biting behaviour in group-housed pigs

Biosystems Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.04.007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 195 ◽

pp. 27-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dong Liu ◽

Maciej Oczak ◽

Kristina Maschat ◽

Johannes Baumgartner ◽

Bernadette Pletzer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computer Vision ◽

Action Recognition ◽

Tail Biting ◽

Temporal Action ◽

Biting Behaviour

Download Full-text

Hubungan Kepadatan dan Biting Behaviour Nyamuk Anopheles farauti Dengan Kasus Malaria di Ekosistem Pantai dan Rawa (Kabupaten Biak Numfor dan Asmat)

Journal of Biota ◽

10.24002/biota.v19i1.452 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hanna S.I. Kawulur ◽

Hidayat Soesilohadi ◽

Suwarno Hadisusanto ◽

Y. Andi Trisyono

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Coastal Ecosystems ◽

Insect Vectors ◽

Anopheles Farauti ◽

Human Landing ◽

The Relationship ◽

Biting Behaviour ◽

Biting Behavior

AbstractPopulation density and bitting behaviour of insect vectors are several of the factors that influence the number of cases of malaria. This study aims to determine the relationship between population density and bitting behaviour Anopheles farauti which is a vector of malaria in coastal ecosystems (Biak Numfor Regency) and swamp ecosystems (Asmat Regency) with malaria cases. The method used is human landing collection conducted at 18:00 to 6:00 a.m. inside and outside the house. The results showed that the population density of An. farauti in coastal ecosystems is relatively lower than the swamp ecosystems. Man bitting rate in coastal ecosystems is 4 and 4.66, at 95.52 and 42.38 in swamp ecosystem. An. farauti on two ecosystems research are eksofilik. Population density and bitting behaviour An. farauti in coastal ecosystems and swamp ecosystems are not positively correlated with the number of malaria cases.Keywords: population density, biting behavior, An. farauti, Biak Numfor, AsmatAbstrakKepadatan populasi dan aktivitas menggigit serangga vektor merupakan salah satu faktor yang mempengaruhi jumlah kasus malaria. Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan hubungan kepadatan populasi dan aktivitas menggigit Anopheles farauti yang merupakan vektor malaria di ekosistem pantai (Kabupaten Biak Numfor) dan ekosistem rawa (Kabupaten Asmat) dengan kasus malaria. Metode yang digunakan adalah human landing collection yang dilakukan pada pukul 18.00ï€06.00 di dalam dan di luar rumah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa padat populasi An. farauti di ekosistem pantai relatif lebih rendah dibandingkan ekosistem rawa. Man bitting rate di ekosistem pantai adalah 4 dan 4,66 di ekosistem rawa 95,52 dan 42,38. An. farauti pada dua ekosistem penelitian bersifat eksofilik. Kepadatan populasi dan aktivitas mencari darah An. farauti di ekosistem pantai dan ekosistem rawa tidak berkorelasi positif dengan jumlah kasus malaria.Kata kunci: kepadatan populasi, aktivitas menggigit, An. farauti, Biak Numfor, Asmat

Download Full-text

Crocodylus johnstoni in the McKinlay River Area N. T, V.* Abnormalities and Injuries

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9830407 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 407 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

GJW Webb ◽

SC Manolis ◽

R Buckworth

Keyword(s):

Dry Season ◽

Wet Season ◽

Intraspecific Interactions ◽

Bite Marks ◽

Tail Biting ◽

Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽

Mandibular Teeth ◽

Interspecific Comparisons ◽

Nematode Worm ◽

Biting Behaviour

Abnormalities and injuries in a sample of 797 C. johnstoni are described. 56.3% of animals were scarred or freshly injured, and 81.1% of injured animals had the tail injured. Rake and bite marks were the most common injury, and these apparently result from intraspecific interactions, perhaps including a specific 'tail-biting' behaviour. Interspecific comparisons indicate the frequencies of injuries are greatest in species which congregate in high densities, namely C. johnstoni and Caiman c. crocodilus. Nematode worm trails were rarely encountered on C. johnstoni under 31 cm snout-vent length (SVL) but were on 100% of animals over 80 cm SVL. Leeches were on 59% of animals caught in one area during the wet season, but only 2.6% of those caught further upstream in the dry season. The SVLs at which mandibular teeth protrude through the premaxilla are quantified and the significance of tooth protrusion discussed.

Download Full-text

Relationship between tail-biting and aggression in pigs reared in two different environments

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200001319 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 2000 ◽

pp. 130-130

Author(s):

N.E. O'Connell ◽

V.E. Beattie

Keyword(s):

Great Britain ◽

Recent Survey ◽

Tail Biting ◽

Individual Traits ◽

Enriched Environments ◽

The Individual ◽

The Relationship

A recent survey showed that 4.3% of pigs slaughtered in Great Britain were tail-bitten (Guise and Penny, 1998). This figure could be reduced through a better understanding of the individual traits associated with tail-biting. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between tail-biting and aggression in pigs reared in barren and enriched environments.

Download Full-text