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Development and implementation of a tail biting risk assessment tool on commercial pig farms (PigNoDock)
Project
Project code: FLI-ITT-08-SD-01-19
Contract period: 01.01.2019
- 31.12.2023
Purpose of research: Applied research
Routine docking of pigs’ tails is not permitted as a method of controlling tail biting without exhausting other options first (2008/120/EC). Recently there has been an increased focus on this legislation at both EU and national level, with the aim of improving compliance. DG Sante are mid-way through a three year project investigating levels of compliance and enforcement across all EU countries, with the ultimate aim to ensure that the law is applied consistently. As part of this, National action plans (NAPs) were required to be submitted by the regulatory Authorities in each Member State (MS) by the end of December last year. Information on how each MS will carry out risk assessment on farm was required. For the past four years, targeted research at Moorepark has investigated enrichment materials and diets to reduce tail-biting in docked and undocked pigs. The next step is to bring research to commercial units, to develop a tail-biting risk reduction system that is practical and effective for producers to use. Although we identified enrichment materials which are favourable to the pig, control of tail biting in undocked pigs using only enrichment in addition to routine management in the Moorepark pig unit proved extremely difficult, and at a rate of use that is unfeasible on commercial units. It is evident that other factors, such as stocking density, feeding method and formulation, pen design etc., also play large roles in reducing the risk of biting. Due to the multi-factorial nature of tail-biting, the effectiveness of adjusting these parameters can only be evaluated in commercial units. It is likely that parameters that need to be adjusted will be specific to individual units. This project will run from January 2019 to December 2023, and incorporate a PhD studentship. The first task is to develop a provisional tail biting risk assessment protocol, which we are carrying out in tandem with AHI and the Department of Agriculture. Training will be provided to PVPs as to its use on commercial units, and it’s effectiveness at identifying risks associated with tail lesions and biting outbreaks assessed by Teagasc personnel. The PhD studentship will focus on adapting a more robust tail biting risk assessment protocol previously developed in Germany (SchwIP), to Irish systems. The work will involve using workshops and training seminars to support modification and implementation of the protocol, through co-design with stakeholders in the Irish pig industry. We are then hoping to implement the system on a number of commercial units, and assess the effectiveness of any changes implemented by producers. We will also implement the SchwIP protocol in the Moorepark unit, and continuously feed-back to producers on our progress. This detailed auditing of infrastructure, management, and use of animal based measures, will identify risk-factors on individual farms, and inform guidelines for best-practice when rearing undocked pigs. Additionally, development of a risk-assessment protocol will assist producers in switching to not docking their pigs while minimizing any negative impacts on the pigs or their business.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal health
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT)
