Biting goes far beyond animal pain
Chewing and biting are natural pig behaviors used to interact. However, stressors in barns –such as boredom, competition or discomfort – can easily turn these behaviours into aggressive biting. Environmental, health, and nutritional factors all influence this shift.
Beyond animal pain, biting has a clear economic impact. It increases labor time and treatment costs, while the resulting abscesses can reduce carcass value or lead to rejection at slaughter. Rearing pigs with intact tails is expected to increase in the future. Regulatory pressure, including a planned ban on tail docking in Europe by
2030, as well as growing welfare and consumer expectations, are driving this transition.
Addressing the biology behind tail biting
Once a pig started to express biting, it is almost impossible to solve the issue for the concerned group of animals. Therefore, in case biting is observed in successive batches, combined measures are needed to prevent future occurrence of the undesired behavior. Once biting behavior starts, it is difficult to resolve within a group. When recurring across batches, preventive and combined approaches are required.
Improving feed access, water quality, and diet composition, as well as providing chewable enrichment can help reduce triggers such as frustration and digestive discomfort. However, these measures should be complemented with solutions that target the biological pathways linked to inflammation, stress and anxiety. By combining plant-based compounds, Zentail helps regulate these pathways, supporting calmer animals and reducing susceptibility to aggressive behaviors.
Main benefits of ZENTAIL
- Improved hormonal status
- Improved inflammatory status
- Better regulation of excitability and anxiety
- More relaxed animals