Emergency in the pigsty: Management of acute tail biting

^{Status: October 2025}

Anne-Claire Berentsen, LAVES Lower Saxony
Reinhard Brunner, Impulsbetrieb Tierwohl
Karl Harleß, Impulsbetrieb Tierwohl
Dr. Haiko Hofmann, German Cattle and Pig Association
Mirjam Lechner
Dr. Eckhard Meyer, Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology
Dr. Sandra Ripke, LAVES Lower Saxony
Dr. Karl-Heinz Tölle, Interest Group of Pig Farmers Germany e.V.
Dr. Astrid van Asten, Chamber of Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia

Dr. Maren Gerlach, Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia
Ulrich Hartmann, Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia
Marie Lüke, Chamber of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia

Poster emergency plan (pdf)

Figure 1: Tail biting is a multifactorial event that can have significant animal welfare and economic consequences. (© Chamber of Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia)

Introduction

Tail biting is a widespread problem in pig farming that can have significant animal welfare and economic consequences. Analysing and eliminating the causes can be very challenging.

Tail biting is a multifactorial event that is not limited to conventional pig farming, but can also occur in extensive farming methods, in organic farming and in free-range farming. A variety of husbandry, feeding and management factors, as well as animal health, can have an influence on the occurrence.

The Fokus Tierwohl network has drawn up an emergency plan based on existing practical guidelines, advisor recommendations and practical experience, which offers support in the event of an outbreak of tail biting.

In 6 training modules, you will receive an in-depth overview of the causes, distraction measures, treatment of bitten pigs and early warning signs that indicate a future tail biting incident.

The aim of the modules is to deepen your understanding of the animals' needs and provide you with concrete tools to improve the welfare of your pigs and at the same time increase production reliability.