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Majority of European pigs tail-docked - study
The study found that
77 per cent of pigs in Europe are routinely tail-docked
Researchers assess practice across 24 countries

The majority of pigs in Europe are routinely tail-docked, despite it being against European legislation, a new study has found.

The research, carried out by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, found that on average 77 per cent of pigs in Europe are routinely tail-docked. Researchers say that to stop the practice, it is necessary for vets to raise awareness and provide more  education about the risk factors.

‘The growing knowledge about the reasons for failing voluntary national initiatives as well as about successful measures taken by some countries to make pig production with intact tails feasible should be distributed throughout the EU pig producing community,’ the study concludes.

‘The veterinary profession has a significant role to play in raising awareness, facilitate knowledge transfer and to identify risk factors and solutions on farm level for the benefit of pig health and welfare.’

In the study, researchers assessed pig tail docking and the provision of enrichment across 24 European countries. They found that most pigs in Europe are being routinely tail docked, with the exception of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, where less than five per cent of pigs are tail docked.

Researchers also found that 67 per cent of pigs across the 24 countries surveyed are given suitable enrichment materials.  

'Training of veterinary practitioners, their role in advising the producer and undertaking a risk assessment of tail biting were more positively valued in countries that stopped routine tail docking than in countries that had not stopped routine tail docking,' the study said.

The researchers identified two initiatives that could promote the raising of pigs with entire tails, including training from national authorities and recording of tail biting at the slaughterhouse.

The study, ‘Phasing out pig tail docking in the EU - present state, challenges and possibilities’, is published in Porcine Health Management.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.