Tail-Biting More Frequent in Littermate Groups

Understanding why pigs tail-bite is a challenge for many producers, as the behavior is often sporadic.
Understanding why pigs tail-bite is a challenge for many producers, as the behavior is often sporadic.
(Farm Journal)

It’s well-known there is a social hierarchy in pig groups. When these group dynamics change, during weaning, movement from building to building, or as groups are comingled, some pigs can act abnormally such as tail-biting.

The challenge is that tail-biting is sporadic. To understand how to manage these behaviors, researchers at the University of Minnesota, focused on the social network analysis method of studying social structures in pig groups and individuals.

Researchers created six pens of four-week-old pigs, with eight pigs per pen, to study for 6 weeks. Video recordings were scanned at 10 minute intervals to register pigs lying together or not.

Pigs were grouped according to their relatedness:

1. Littermates: All eight pigs (four barrows and four gilts) in a pen were related, farrowed and nursed by the same sow.

2. Non-littermates: All eight pigs in a pen (four barrows and four gilts) were farrowed and raised by eight different sows and were mixed when entering the nursery barn.

3. Half-group of littermates: One pen of two groups of littermates. Four pigs, two barrows and two gilts, came from each of two litters and were mixed when entering the nursery barn.

All pigs had no tail damage upon entering the study. An effort was made to achieve similar average weight and in-pen weight variation across all pens.

Results show the littermates were less socially connected in a pen, spending less time lying together with their pen-mates than non-littermates. Littermates had a higher incidence of tail-biting than non-littermates, with 15% of littermates recorded as being a victim of tailbiting. No pigs in the other treatment groups were recorded as tail-bitten.  

Researchers say less social connection with pen-mates might predispose littermate pigs to developing tail-biting behavior.

Click here to read further analysis from Minnesota researchers.

 

Latest News

Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Now that the mystery illness impacting some dairy herds has been revealed as the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza that has been impacting the U.S. poultry flock, pork producers are asking questions.

Merck Introduces Sequivity with Microsol Diluvac Forte Adjuvant Prescription Vaccine
Merck Introduces Sequivity with Microsol Diluvac Forte Adjuvant Prescription Vaccine

Merck Animal Health announced it has received license approval from the USDA for Sequivity with Microsol Diluvac Forte adjuvant prescription vaccine for use in gilts and sows. 

What Does the Next Generation of the Pork Industry Want?
What Does the Next Generation of the Pork Industry Want?

It’s easy to make assumptions about what others think, but recent research funded by the Indiana Pork Producers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance proves it’s always better to go to the source itself.

Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps
Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

AASV Foundation Announces Recipients of Hogg Scholarship
AASV Foundation Announces Recipients of Hogg Scholarship

Ashley Johnson and Jana Morgan were named the 2024 recipients of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation Hogg Scholarship.

Will The Collapse Of The Baltimore Key Bridge Impact Agriculture?
Will The Collapse Of The Baltimore Key Bridge Impact Agriculture?

Mike Steenhoek, executive director at the Soy Transportation Coalition, shares what the collapse could mean for the supply chain.