The effect of increased feeding occasions per day on the incidence of tail biting-a case report

Tail biting is a recurring and severe problem in the pig production, being provoked by a multitude of underlying factors predisposing for an abnormal behaviour. Risk factors include feed-related factors such as restricted feeding, a high-energy, low-fibre ration, unpredicted feeding times, and competition for food. In 2010, an increase in the number of feeding bouts from three to four times a day was implemented in a Swedish finisher farm. Following this change, a decrease in the number of pigs with tail lesions being recorded at slaughter, and a drop in the number of pigs treated with antibiotics for tail biting, was noted. The aim of this study was to investigate retrospectively the effect of changing the number of feeding times per day in 15 868 pigs being bred during 15 months before (Period 1) to 15 months after (Period 2) this change was implemented, including the remarks for tail biting at slaughter, the number of pigs treated for tail biting, the daily weight gain (DWG) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) during these periods.

In total 6390 pigs in Period 1, and 9478 pigs in Period 2, were included. The average number of remarks for tail lesions at slaughter was reduced from 147 pigs to 113 pigs, a reduction by 54% (p < 0.001). The number of pigs subject to antibiotic treatment for "tail biting" was reduced from 0.9% to 0.6%, a reduction by 35% (p < 0.01). The average DWG during Period 1 was 790 g/day and during Period 2, the DWG was 830 g/day (p < 0.0007). The FCR as measured by MJ/kg growth was 38.5 MJ/kg during Period 1, and 37.2 MJ/kg growth during Period 2 (p < 0.024).

An increase in the number of feeding bouts from three to four times daily seems to reduce the frequency of tail biting, as monitored by the number of remarks at slaughter and the number of treatments for tail biting. Further, the increase resulted in a higher average daily weight gain and in a decrease in the feed conversion ratio.