Evidence of Pain, Stress, and Fear of Humans During Tail Docking and the Next Four Weeks in Piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus).

Céline Tallet,Armelle Prunier,Marine Rakotomahandry,Sabine Herlemont

doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00462

Abstract

Tail docking is widely performed in pig farms to prevent tail biting. We investigated the consequences of this practice on behavioral indicators of pain and stress, and on the human-piglet relationship during lactation. Within 19 litters, piglets (1–3 days of age) were submitted on day 0 (D0) to docking with a cautery iron (D), sham-docking (S), or no docking (U). Piglets from the D and S groups were observed during the procedure (body movements and vocalizations) and just after, in isolation, during 20 s for body, tail and ear postures as well as ear movements. Piglets from the three treatments were observed in their home pen after docking on D0 and D3 afternoon for body posture, tail posture and movements. Piglets from the D and U groups were observed on D6, D12, D19, and D26 in their home pen for oral behavior, body, and tail posture. Tail damage and tear staining were scored on D5, D11, D18, and D25. A 5-min motionless human test was performed on D14. During the procedure, D piglets screamed more and with a higher intensity (P < 0.05) than S piglets (n = 48–50). Just after docking, D piglets held their ears in a posture perpendicular to the head-tail axis and changed their ear posture more often (P < 0.05). Between D6 and D26, D piglets kept their tail immobile (P < 0.001) and in a horizontal position (P < 0.01) more often than U piglets (n = 45–47). Between D11 and D25, U piglets had higher scores for tail damage and damage freshness than D piglets (0.09 < P < 0.02) whereas tear-stain score was similar. In the human test, D piglets interacted later with an unfamiliar human than U piglets (P = 0.01, n = 18/group). Present data indicate signs of acute pain and stress in piglets due to docking during the procedure itself and adverse consequences throughout lactation thereafter, including on their relationship with humans. On the other hand, the presence of tail lesions shows that undocked piglets are subject to more tail biting, even before weaning.

Highlights

Tail docking is commonly performed to prevent tail biting in pigs as it reduces its prevalence 2–4 fold [1, 2]
We hypothesized that: [1] tail docking is a stressful and painful practice that modifies piglets’ behavioral activity, tail, and ear posture shortly after the event, [2] pain and stress are maintained in the weeks following the practice and should lead to modifications of behavior including tail posture and movements or general activity, and [3] docked piglets will develop fear reactions toward humans in the weeks following the event
We found more lesions on the tails of non-docked piglets, since 17% of them had a sign of lesion at least once during lactation compared to 4.4% of docked pigs

Summary

Introduction

Tail docking is commonly performed to prevent tail biting in pigs as it reduces its prevalence 2–4 fold [1, 2]. Reports of the expression of painlike behaviors (including scooting, jamming, and hunching) in the 120 min following the procedure are not consistent: some studies observed an increase in these behaviors [7] while other did not [8]. Most studies have focused on the tail biting consequences of not docking the tail [11] and not on the painful consequences of docking. No study has attempted to observe behavioral signs of pain in the weeks following tail docking. Piglets may associate the negative states (fear and pain) due to docking with human presence and develop fear of humans, as has been observed after castration [12]. The aim of the present study was to determine the consequences of tail docking on behavioral activity until weaning. We hypothesized that: [1] tail docking is a stressful and painful practice that modifies piglets’ behavioral activity, tail, and ear posture shortly after the event, [2] pain and stress are maintained in the weeks following the practice and should lead to modifications of behavior including tail posture and movements or general activity, and [3] docked piglets will develop fear reactions toward humans in the weeks following the event

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion