TAIL BITING
Tail biting is one of the most frequent problems in weaner and finisher
units. We are trying to pinpoint the causes of tail biting with a view to
eliminate the problem. There is constant focus on labour-saving pen types
and feeding systems that at the same time increase the economic profit of
each pig.
Tail biting may be caused by few or many inappropriate conditions.
Sometimes, the causes are found in the housing section where the tail
biting occurs, and other times in a previous housing section.
Development of program for analysis of the causes of tail biting
As part of a comprehensive research project, the Danish Applied Pig Research
Scheme is co-operating with the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences to
develop a computer program that can link behavioural observations with
statistics in an attempt to find the causes of tail biting in the individual
herd.
The computer program - a so-called Bayesian net - must be able to find and
weigh causes of tail biting and symptoms of conditions that may lead to tail
biting. Information on, for instance, the climate of the housing unit, the
pigs’ behaviour and the housing design is entered into the program. The
program can also learn and be adjusted according to the results of changes
made in the herds.
As part of the development, a prototype of the system was tested in 20
herds. In each herd, data were recorded on, for instance the pigs’
behaviour and the climate in the housing unit. These data were subsequently
analysed by the program, and the most plausible causes of tail biting in
each herd were found.
Changes were then made in the herds to eliminate the causes, and the herds
were monitored for a period of time to see whether the measures had any
effect. The results are used to improve the program, and, at the same
time, provide valuable knowledge of the causes of tail biting and the
possibilities of eliminating them.
Temporary elimination of tail biting
Together with the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the Danish
Applied Pig Research Scheme is also studying whether it is possible to
temporarily eliminate tail biting. Ropes are suspended in the pens or straw
or a diet with increased carbohydrate content is given for 14 days when tail
biting breaks out. A temporary elimination of the problems may give the pig
producers time to find the actual causes, for instance by way of using the
manual or the program, and eliminate the causes altogether.
The preliminary results indicate that suspending ropes in the pens reduces
tail biting when it breaks out. This is shown by the fact that the number
of tail injuries was apparently reduced during the first 14 days when rope
was given. The reason is probably that the wounds were allowed to heal, and
that there were no new tail injuries as the pigs directed their sucking and
chewing behaviour towards the rope instead of towards other pigs.
A corresponding effect was seen when giving straw. The straw was given 3-4
times a day during those 14 days. Previous studies have also shown that
the allocation of straw could reduce tail biting in herds with those
problems.
There has not yet been any effect in the group given the carbohydrate-rich
feed.
Manual
The National Committee for Pig Production has made a interdisciplinary
manual that pig producers can use as a tool for examining their herd to
find the causes of tail biting. The manual consists of a checklist and a
detailed description of the conditions known to cause tail biting.
The following checklist should be used if there is tail biting in the herd.
Further recommendations and explanations of the points can be found in the
manual concerning tail biting at www.lu.dk.
Quick intervention in case of outbreaks of tail biting
-
Have steps been taken to eliminate tail biting quickly?
-
Are tail-bitten pigs treated correctly?
Water supply
- Are the nipple drinkers supplying the correct amount
of water?
- Is there a sufficient number of drinkers in each
pen?
Feed
- Does feed mixed on-farm segregate?
- Is the colour of the manure in pens the same at both ends of the pipeline?
- Is the pigs’ behaviour the same at each delivery
of finished feed or of premix for feed mixed
on-farm?
Pen design
- Is the pen designed correctly with a lying area,
an activity area and a dunging area?
Stocking density and number of feeding points
- Are the space requirements met, so that
overcrowding is avoided?
- Are there enough feeding points compared with the
number of pigs?
Transfer strategy and sorting
- Is mixing of pigs between pens after transfer
avoided?
Rooting and enrichment material
- Do the pigs have permanent access to enrichment
and rooting materials?
- Is the material placed correctly?
Potential equalisation
- Are the electrical installations in the housing unit at the electric switchboard main-equalized and connected to an earth rod?
- Are the electric wirings in the housing unit equalised?
Regulation of temperature, climate and air quality
- Does the housing temperature correspond to the age of
the pigs and the design of the housing unit?
- Is the pigs’ lying behaviour normal?
- Does the air in the housing unit feel good?
- Does the ventilation system work satisfactorily?
- Are the pigs dunging where they are supposed to?
- Is the bedding dry?
- Are the slurry containers emptied?
—The National
Committee for Pig Production, Annual Report 2004, Denmark
THIRD ANNUAL ANIMAL SCIENCE ALUMNI REUNION PLANNED
The NCSU Animal Science Club and the Animal Science Department are
planning their third annual Alumni Reunion for Saturday, April 2,
2005 at the Beef Education Unit on Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh.
Last year’s event, held in conjunction with Animal Science Club
Day attracted over 300 people from a wide range of ages and locations.
The Animal Science Club Day event will be held on Friday afternoon,
April 1, 2005 beginning at 1:00 pm. Feel free to come and watch current
students compete for top showmanship honors and participate in our Ag
Olympics events. All we ask is that you let us know if you plan to be
there for dinner that evening. Our Alumni Reunion will begin at 9:30
on Saturday morning, April 2, and conclude around 3:00 pm. We have a
continental breakfast, farm tours, alumni and family Ag Olympics and
a BBQ lunch all planned for your enjoyment. This is a social event
with no formal program but rather an opportunity to visit with old
friends, faculty and staff from the department.
Current members of the Animal Science Club organize the reunion each year
and are the primary sponsors. Additional sponsors of last year’s event were
the NCSU Animal Science Department, Carolina Farm Credit, Lowe’s Foods of
Winston Salem, the CVM’s Population Health and Pathobiology Department and
the CALS Alumni Society.
If you are an Animal Science graduate or a former member of the NCSU Animal
Science Club and you have interest in attending the 2005 event, please
contact us at ansclubalumni@excite.com. We will be happy to provide you
with more details about the reunion. If you do not have e-mail access,
please contact Dale Miller at (919)515-7772.
You can find current information about the Animal Science Club at
the following web location:
www.ncsuanimalscience.com
The Beef Educational Unit is located just off of Lake Wheeler Road,
approximately 1 mile South of Tryon Road in Raleigh. The easiest access
is from I-40 on the South side of Raleigh. Take Exit 297 and travel south
on Lake Wheeler Road for about 1.5 miles and cross Tryon Road. Then follow
Lake Wheeler Road about 1 more mile South and turn right on Mid-Pines Road.
The Beef Unit drive is on the right and the red-roofed building is clearly
visible from Lake Wheeler Road.
THIRD ANNUAL ANIMAL SCIENCE ALUMNI REUNION FORM
Name(s)________________________________________
Mailing Address ________________________________________________________
E-Mail _________________________________________
Number Attending Saturday ___________________
Number Attending Friday _____________________
March,
2005 . Volume 28, Number 02
