Motivational factors and financial incentives to mitigate tail biting in pig production in Finland

Abstract

Tail biting affects the health and welfare of pigs, the quality of pig carcasses, and the profitability of production in both weaner and finishing pig production. There are specific quality criteria for weaned pigs, and tail damage can lead to a reductions in the purchase price of weaner pigs as well as to carcass rejections at the slaughterhouse. Although this issue is important, research has paid little attention to tail biting in weaner pig production. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of various motivational factors and economic incentives on the management of tail biting on Finnish pig farms and to assess the costs of tail biting in weaner pig production. The data were collected by interviewing representatives of 15 farms producing finishing pigs and 10 farms producing weaner pigs during 2021–2022. The interviews covered risk factors for tail biting and the factors that most motivated producers to reduce the occurrence of tail biting. Additionally, using a calculation model, the economic significance of tail biting in nurseries was assessed. The interviewed farmers were very or fairly motivated to address tail biting when they observed it on their own farms. Half of the representatives from farms producing weaner pigs found that the management measures were laborious to implement. The economic incentives that most motivated farmers producing weaner pigs to address tail biting were obtaining a better price for intact-tailed (undocked tails with no tail lesions) pigs and financial support for measures to manage tail biting. Representatives of finishing farms were most motivated by the decrease in carcass condemnations and increase in meat prices. The results suggest that the desire to produce healthy pig with high welfare also motivated Finnish farmers. According to the calculation model and a hypothetical scenario, tail biting in weaner pig production can cause a loss of up to approximately €32 per bitten pig in Finland, taking into account possible effects during the finishing phase, reduced growth, treatment of the tail-damaged pig, and various income losses and additional costs. As the consequences of tail biting can be substantial, it is important that farmers are informed about the potential financial losses and impairment of animal welfare in the event of tail biting occurrence as well as possible means to mitigate and prevent tail biting.