Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted Floors
Solutions are needed to keep pigs under commercial conditions without tail biting outbreaks (TBOs). However, as TBOs are inevitable, even in well managed farms, it is crucial to know how to manage TBOs when they occur. We evaluated the effectiveness of multi-step intervention protocols to control TB...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/8/582 |
| _version_ | 1818453526631677952 |
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| author | Jen-Yun Chou Keelin O’Driscoll Rick B. D’Eath Dale A. Sandercock Irene Camerlink |
| author_facet | Jen-Yun Chou Keelin O’Driscoll Rick B. D’Eath Dale A. Sandercock Irene Camerlink |
| author_sort | Jen-Yun Chou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Solutions are needed to keep pigs under commercial conditions without tail biting outbreaks (TBOs). However, as TBOs are inevitable, even in well managed farms, it is crucial to know how to manage TBOs when they occur. We evaluated the effectiveness of multi-step intervention protocols to control TBOs. Across 96 pens (1248 undocked pigs) managed on fully-slatted floors, 40 TBOs were recorded (≥3 out of 12−14 pigs with fresh tail wounds). When an outbreak was identified, either the biters or the victims were removed, or enrichment (three ropes) was added. If the intervention failed, another intervention was randomly used until all three interventions had been deployed once. Fifty percent of TBOs were controlled after one intervention, 30% after 2−3 interventions, and 20% remained uncontrolled. A high proportion of biters/victims per pen reduced intervention success more so than the type of intervention. When only one intervention was used, adding ropes was the fastest method to overcome TBOs. Removed biters and victims were successfully reintroduced within 14 days back to their home pens. In conclusion, 80% of TBOs were successfully controlled within 18.4 ± 1.7 days on average using one or multiple cost-effective intervention strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T21:40:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0720b5c93b4f4f00848dcef053e4bc0a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T21:40:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-0720b5c93b4f4f00848dcef053e4bc0a2022-12-21T22:46:28ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-08-019858210.3390/ani9080582ani9080582Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted FloorsJen-Yun Chou0Keelin O’Driscoll1Rick B. D’Eath2Dale A. Sandercock3Irene Camerlink4Pig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, P61 P302 Moorepark, IrelandPig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, P61 P302 Moorepark, IrelandAnimal & Veterinary Sciences Research Group, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UKAnimal & Veterinary Sciences Research Group, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UKInstitute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaSolutions are needed to keep pigs under commercial conditions without tail biting outbreaks (TBOs). However, as TBOs are inevitable, even in well managed farms, it is crucial to know how to manage TBOs when they occur. We evaluated the effectiveness of multi-step intervention protocols to control TBOs. Across 96 pens (1248 undocked pigs) managed on fully-slatted floors, 40 TBOs were recorded (≥3 out of 12−14 pigs with fresh tail wounds). When an outbreak was identified, either the biters or the victims were removed, or enrichment (three ropes) was added. If the intervention failed, another intervention was randomly used until all three interventions had been deployed once. Fifty percent of TBOs were controlled after one intervention, 30% after 2−3 interventions, and 20% remained uncontrolled. A high proportion of biters/victims per pen reduced intervention success more so than the type of intervention. When only one intervention was used, adding ropes was the fastest method to overcome TBOs. Removed biters and victims were successfully reintroduced within 14 days back to their home pens. In conclusion, 80% of TBOs were successfully controlled within 18.4 ± 1.7 days on average using one or multiple cost-effective intervention strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/8/582undocked tailtail dockingtail bitingfully slatted floorvictimenrichmenttail scorepig |
| spellingShingle | Jen-Yun Chou Keelin O’Driscoll Rick B. D’Eath Dale A. Sandercock Irene Camerlink Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted Floors Animals undocked tail tail docking tail biting fully slatted floor victim enrichment tail score pig |
| title | Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted Floors |
| title_full | Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted Floors |
| title_fullStr | Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted Floors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted Floors |
| title_short | Multi-Step Tail Biting Outbreak Intervention Protocols for Pigs Housed on Slatted Floors |
| title_sort | multi step tail biting outbreak intervention protocols for pigs housed on slatted floors |
| topic | undocked tail tail docking tail biting fully slatted floor victim enrichment tail score pig |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/8/582 |
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