In this edition of Farmer’s Inside Track, we welcome back the Meadow Feeds team. Farmers turn them for more than just feed, and this week’s expert is Retha Gericke, technical advisor at Meadow Feeds in KwaZulu-Natal, who unpacks tail biting in pigs.
“Pigs are naturally curious animals and they tend to use their mouth when they are exploring their environment and objects of interest. This behaviour is completely harmless if it is properly managed, but the problem is it can manifest into behavioural problems such as tail biting,” Gericke explains.
“Tail biting can be sporadic or chronic and it’s a behavioural problem that you most commonly find in your growing pigs. The problem is the tail biting can result in economic loss,” she says.
The economic losses can result in medical treatment expenses, secondary infections, carcass condemnations, and eventually the death of pigs.
How it can spread
“Tail biting can be triggered. While the pig’s natural behaviour can be a contributor, there are numerous environmental management and nutritional factors that can trigger the pigs to start,” she explains.
Temperature plays one of the biggest roles in tail biting. Pigs are very sensitive to heat stress which can trigger biting.
In this episode, Gericke also discusses:
- What types of triggers are out there for pigs; and
- Treatment and prevention.
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