1. Conclusions from the meeting on actions to minimise tail biting and avoid tail docking of pigs 4-6 Oct 2016

2. Objective To change farm management and environmental factors to:
reduce stress for pigs,
minimise tail biting and
avoid tail docking.

3. Lessons from laying hens
Clear communication on legal requirements
Meetings and frank exchanges with all parts of the food chain
Methods of achieving compliance (grant aid change)
Persuasion (will come back to this).
(ABI on hens redn in feather pecking, parallels with tb in pigs)

4. Multi-factorial problem = Multi-factorial solution
FI, SE, CH are the standard
A strategy which includes official controls but more importantly engages the key stakeholders (SH, farmers, CAs – joined actions)
Strategies are being implemented (51 projects in Germany funding outcomes such as intact pig tails in slaughterhouses)
Step by Step approach advisable

5. Measuring levels of tail biting, tail docking
5 MS (apart from SE and FI) can indicate a prevalence for tail biting
4 MS can indicate a level of tail docking
Options to measure situation: Official inspections, reporting by private vets, questionnaires, slaughterhouse data(CA access)
Then a good RA for each farm needed/ compliance criteria set

6. Influencers for farm practice
Need political and stakeholder engagement (not only those operating in the food chain incl supermarkets also NGOs – consumers? Costs?).
Get farmers (fatteners also) to do Risk Assessment for tail docking

7. Tasks for Commission Co-ordinating MS
Co-ordinating results of projects (Farewelldock and Cost project)
Synthesise projects – a big task?
Sharing protocols (CIRCABC)
Task force

8. Industry and CA acting together
Need to join forces with industry to same goal: increase trust
projects to help farmers
cover their risks
Perseverance needed and high level commitment
"Caretaker has the biggest influence on animal welfare"