Intact tails

Your way to intact tails

You can find advice and inspiration for avoiding challenges with tail bites on

www.haleguide.dk

which SEGES is behind. It is a user-friendly website concerning measures and good routines that are good for prevention and handling of tail bites whether or not you produce pigs with intact tails.

If you wish to know more about documentation requirements, SEGES has also made a website concerning this topic:

www.svineproduktion.dk/aktuelt/temaer/halebid_risikovurdering


Pay attention to down-hanging tails

It is important that you focus on spotting the first and early signs of tail biting. Everyone in the stable must be trained in this.

Note when the pigs start to hold their tails down their behind and the tails become clean at the tip. These are usually the first early signs of tail biting and they can be spotted before real lesions appear on the tail.

When you see it, add extra enrichment material or toys for distraction.


Intervene quickly

The most important thing about production of pigs with intact tails is a quick intervention at the first signs of tail biting starting. Give the pigs something new to play with every day (e.g. a sack, rope hung up in the middle of the pen, wrap