Towards a Norwegian pork production free of tail biting

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

Tail biting is a serious welfare issue in pig production and an economic challenge for the farmer. Tail biting has previously not been an issue in Norwegian pig production, but in recent years Norsvin has received feedback where it seems like tail biting is becoming a challenge in Norway as well. The aim of this project is therefore to reduce tail biting incidences in Norway and in other countries where Norsvin has genetics. As tail biting is a complex behaviour that is influenced by several factors, the project is split in two parts. One part which includes herd management and environment and a part on breeding and genetics. In the part that includes herd management and environment, we shall identify risk factors in herd environments which affect the occurrence of tail biting. This will be performed through large-scale recording of tail biting in herds with both high and low frequency of tail biting incidences. From these recordings, we will develop new protocols and guidelines to prevent, anticipate and handle tail biting incidences on a herd level. In the part that includes breeding and genetics, genetic analyses of tail biting as a trait will be performed. In addition, the project will investigate different selection strategies to include tail biting in Norsvins breeding program. To do this, we are dependent on more information regarding tail biting. The project will therefore record tail biting incidences at Norsvin's boar test station and in herds with commercial crossbred animals. These will also be genotyped to enable us to use the information in the genetic evaluation later. Tail biting is difficult to record because it can be highly unpredictable. In addition, the trait is an interaction between two individuals, the biter and the victim, and can be difficult to observe. We will therefore investigate whether we can find other traits correlated to tail biting but which are easier to register.