The UK falls behind on phasing out pig mutilations
Tail docking is a mutilation where a pig’s tail is removed often without pain relief, which takes place to reduce tail biting. Tail biting is a behaviour which happens as a result of frustration caused by poor environments.
Tail docking remains widespread in UK pig farming, despite being legally permitted only as a last resort. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) reported that between 2018 and 2020, 72% of pigs slaughtered in the UK had been tail-docked. In contrast, countries like Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland have either banned it entirely or almost completely removed it.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, tail docking is not to be carried out routinely and must only be used when all other measures have been evidenced and failed. If pigs are over 7 days old, the procedure must be performed with anaesthesia and prolonged analgesia by a vet.
Despite this, enforcement remains weak, and the practice continues routinely across the UK.
European countries leading the way
In comparison, other European countries have taken stronger legal stances. Sweden, Switzerland, Finland and Norway have taken measures that have practically resulted in the cessation of tail docking.
These laws push farmers to focus on prevention, which highlight improving environmental conditions to reduce stress and tail biting.
Countries that emphasise enrichment and natural behaviours, have shown that high-welfare systems can reduce or eliminate the need for tail docking whilst keeping their tail biting rates low.
Treating the cause rather than the symptom
Tail biting, the unnatural behaviour which tail docking aims to prevent, is a complex, multi-factorial issue, often caused by stress, overcrowding, lack of enrichment, and inability to express natural behaviours. This mutilation, illegal when done routinely, does nothing to resolve these root causes. Worse still, the procedure itself is painful, with piglets in the UK often docked without anaesthetic when under seven days old. Long-term consequences can include neuromas, chronic pain, spinal abscesses, and lameness.
Government bodies like DEFRA and public bodies, like the AHDB, have acknowledged the need for change, suggesting enrichment improvements and farmer support schemes. In its latest Animal Welfare Strategy for England, the government addresses the need to reduce the prevalence of painful mutilations on pigs.
Enforcing the law
If the UK wants to claim leadership in animal welfare, it must consider more effective ways to enforce the laws that already ban these painful mutilations as a routine procedure. In addition, the Animal Welfare Act requires a suitable environment, which if interpreted correctly would mean avoiding environments that lead to tail biting. Other countries in the EU have proven that banning tail docking is not only possible, but viable and practical.
The law on this matter is clear, and the UK must stop relying on the outdated practice of tail mutilation, looking to other countries for guidance.
Read The Animal Law Foundation’s report ‘A Pig’s Tail: How Europe is moving beyond routine tail docking’
