Tail Docking: Equipment for Correct and Careful Use in the Herd

Tail Docking: A Clean Cut in the Justified Individual Case

Shortening a piglet's tail is one of the most strictly regulated jobs in a pig house. It must not be done as a routine, only where tail biting demonstrably occurs in the herd and the housing conditions have been reviewed and improved first. Here you will find tail docking irons and accessories with which the procedure runs cleanly and quickly where there is an indication for it.

Units and blades

The stainless steel tail docking iron works with a transformer and a spacer, so the cutting length stays the same and you start at the identical point on every piglet. A model with a bow and blade is designed for piglets and lambs, and one version needs no gas at all, so a socket is all it asks for. The HSGM hot cutter holds its temperature even through long runs. As wearing parts there are type R cutting tips, a V blade and matching spare blades. Change blunt blades early, because a clean separation supports wound healing.

The legal framework and doing the job

Before the procedure comes the review of the housing: stocking density, house climate, water and feed supply and the enrichment material on offer. Only when these points are right and tail biting still occurs does shortening come into question in an individual case. In many countries a documented risk assessment is needed for this. Discuss the approach with your vet. The work is carried out in the first days of life and only by trained people, and a sufficient part of the tail always remains. Work with a preheated unit, hold the piglet calmly and clean the blade between litters.

Frequently asked questions

Is tail docking permitted in general?
No, as a routine it is prohibited. It remains permitted only in an individual case, where injuries from tail biting are documented in the herd and the housing conditions have been adjusted beforehand. The reasons have to be documented so they can be followed.

Why a hot cutter and not a cold cut?
The hot blade separates and seals in one working step. Bleeding is less and the wound closes faster. Make sure the unit has reached temperature before you start on the first piglet.

How do I prevent tail biting without a procedure?
Plenty of organic enrichment material, enough drinking places, a stable house climate and a moderate stocking density all work. Watch the group daily, because hanging tails show the problem up before any blood is drawn.