Tail Biting and other Vices

Causal agent	None specifically
Age group	The demonstration of vices can occur in all age groups
Clinical signs
Facial necrosis	Tail biting - grow/finishing pig, rarely in adults
	Flank biting – grow/finish
	Vulva biting - adult females when loosed housed
	Ear sucking/ear biting – in nursery pigs
	Penile sucking – newly weaned pigs
	Bar biting and other stereotypy’s
Tail biting		Flank biting	Vulva biting
Ear biting		Ear sucking	Penile sucking
Causes
	Stressed and deprived pigs
Check the following:	Check stocking density. Check tail length, in particular variability. Check feed particle size (target> 500 µm). Check salt (NaCl) concentration in feed. Check water supplies. Check for evidence of a draught at pig heights (draught air speed > 0.2 m/sec). Check air quality (target - NH3 < 20 ppm H2S < 10 ppm and CO2 < 3000 ppm). Check humidity (target between 50 and 75%. Check light intensity. Check water supplies. Check feeder space availability. Check 24 hour temperature fluctuations. Mixing pigs. Moving pigs. Facial necrosis is associated with lactation failure. Note the iceberg effect of combinations of these faults

Treatment
	Find offending pig – this may be difficult
	Look for the gaunt smaller middle order pig, often with chronic mild diarrhea
	Remove affected pigs to a hospital pen
	Treat with sprays/wound dressings
	Consider euthanasia if pig severely affected, lame or has other abscesses
Control	Increase salt (NaCl) concentration to 0.9% - ensure the water supply is excellent
Review environmental factors	Air	in particular draughts – 90% association with tail biting Gasses – in particular NH3, CO2, CO Weather changes – high pressure Inappropriate/variable temperatures Check lying and defecation patterns of the pigs
	Water	Fighting over inadequate water Urine concentrated in sows makes vulva biting more likely Water trough placement in sows
	Feed	Check for mycotoxins Fighting over feed availability
	Floor	Check stocking density – both under and overstocking Inadequate sleeping area
	Stock	Some genetics may be more aggressive in some environments
	Provide distractions through toys – chains for example
	Improve pig flow – remove under and over stocking
	Check tail docking principles – pigs do not like variable pig tail lengths
	Chains can provide great distraction for pigs		Tires should be avoided as they contain metal parts and may block parts of the pen
Facial necrosis	Enhance lactation output – three major areas to examine: Overfeeding in gestation, poor water intake in lactation and too high a farrowing house room temperature.
Post-mortem findings
	Injury to the skin. Sequelae to vices include – pulmonary millary abscesses, vegetative endocarditis, bacteriaemia, spinal abscessation and single or multiple discrete abscesses throughout the body

Areas of Vice

Tail biting		Flank biting	Ear biting
Vulva biting
Penile or naval sucking		Ear sucking	Facial necrosis