FAQs

Frequently asked questions:

The questions below relate to the type of information on this website, how to translate it, where to find the sitemap and why pages marked by * are password protected.

* What can I find on this website?
This website contains information about the FareWellDock project. This is a research project about tail docking and tail biting in pigs. The website contains (blog) posts and webpages. Posts present events chronologically on the home page. The list of posts is also shown when you click the title of this website (FareWellDock) in the header. Webpages are organised hierarchically as tabs directly below the header. At the bottom of each page the sitemap is shown, including the ‘tree’ of webpages and the list of blog posts. Pages marked with * (e.g. Docs*) are protected by a password. These pages are under construction or are intended for partners in the project only.  The page ‘info’ contains more information about the project, project affiliates (see under partners) and what this project is all about,  i.e. tail biting, tail docking and enrichment for pigs (see links and the factsheet tail docking & biting (under development)).

* How can I translate this website?
You may want to download Google Chrome (a webbrowser) and install the extension allowing you to translate webpages using Google Translate. Later in this project we intend to publish factsheets to help farmers implement scientific findings relevant to reduce tail docking and tail biting in pigs. The factsheets will be available in various languages (English, French, Danish, Finnish and Norwegian).

* Where can I find the sitemap?
Scroll down, to where it says ‘Pages’ and ‘Posts’.

* Why are some pages or posts protected with a password?
These pages are under construction or are intended for partners in the project only. Such pages are marked with *.

* What type of questions have others interested in the FareWellDock project been interested in?
Example questions include the following:
Why focus on enrichment and health as risk factors for tail biting?
What is the added benefit of involving countries with very different pig husbandry practices? E.g. tail docking is illegal in Sweden and Finland, and in Sweden straw must be provided.
Why would Sweden, where routine tail docking is not allowed, be interested in research on reducing the need for tail docking?
How is ‘tail biting’ defined and how is it recorded?
How many pigs have their tails docked?
How do scientists study pain perception during tail docking?
What is good enrichment for pigs?
Is it possible for conventional pig farmers to reduce tail docking? (Yes!)

Why do farmers dock the tails of their pigs?
To prevent tail biting. Tail biting is difficult to control once it starts. Many farmers feel that this small operation at an early age is better than risking the more severe consequences of a tail biting outbreak later in life.

Why is early detection of a tail biting outbreak needed?
It puts farmers more in control of the situation.

Is tail biting an economic concern?
Yes, tail biting is not desirable from an economic perspective. Solving the problem can be a win-win for both pig production and pig welfare.

Pigs rooting outdoors
Pigs rooting outdoors