Description
Routine tail docking of pigs remains one of the most persistent welfare issues in UK pig farming, despite being legally restricted and widely recognised as a painful mutilation. This webinar, hosted by The Animal Law Foundation, brings together experts from animal law, veterinary practice, animal welfare, and pig husbandry to explore how the UK can move beyond routine tail docking.
Edie Bowles will outline the legal framework protecting pigs from routine procedures and the obligations of vets to safeguard pigs from this. Dr Alice Brough will provide an on-the-ground perspective of pig veterinary practice – examining why tail docking remains widespread and how systemic change can be achieved. Phoebe Hartnett from the RSPCA will share the charity’s policy stance and discuss how welfare assurance schemes can help drive progress. Finally, Prof. Anna Valros will present how Finland successfully eradicated routine docking while maintaining low levels of tail biting, offering valuable lessons for the UK.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the UK legal framework governing pig welfare and the conditions under which tail docking is permitted
- Recognise the vital roles veterinary surgeons can play in preventing illegal and painful mutilations
- Identify the key welfare and management factors that lead to tail biting and explore practical solutions
- Evaluate assurance scheme standards, including how certification bodies like RSPCA Assured propose to tackle this issue
- Learn from Finland’s success, analysing the strategies and husbandry improvements that allowed a complete phase-out of tail docking
