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For many years, tail docking in piglets has been, and still is, common practice in swine farms as a way of avoiding tail biting between the animals and the serious problem that this entails. Nevertheless, during these last years, society has shown his criticism towards this kind of management practice.
Due to this, the Dutch Agriculture and Horticulture Organisation (LTO) and the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals (Dierenbescherming) set up a work group in 2012 with the aim of expanding the knowledge on the different factors that affect tail biting. The Dutch association NVV, feed companies such as Coppens, swine genetics companies such as Topigs, abattoirs such as Vion, veterinarian associations such as the Dutch Royal Veterinarians' Association, and investigators such as the University of Wageningen have collaborated too.
Those signing the declaration aim to research solutions against tail biting in existing farm houses and research feasible and affordable novel housing concepts, in which tail docking will be needed less – or not at all.
Monday June 10, 2013/ Wageningen UR/ Netherlands.
http://www.wageningenur.nl/
