ReviewAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI2019
A Review of the Effects of Non-Straw Enrichment on Tail Biting in Pigs.
Review in Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- Feeding of Undocked Pigs: Effects of Feed Components and Feed Composition.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Review
- Influence of group size on performance and tail biting in growing-finishing pigs with intact tails.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2026Article
- It's all a matter of perspective-a comparison of scientific experts' vs. farmers' opinions on Best Practices for pig welfare.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Enrichments Adjusted to the Number of Litters: Simple Approach to Improve the Welfare of Weaned Piglets under Farm Conditions.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Article
- Impact of feed, light and access to manipulable material on tail biting in pigs with intact tails.Acta veterinaria Scandinavica · 2024Article
- Use of organic material provided by an automatic enrichment device by weaner pigs and its influence on tail lesions.PloS one · 2024Article
- Amino acid supplementation counteracts negative effects of low protein diets on tail biting in pigs more than extra environmental enrichment.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- A Practical Approach to Providing Environmental Enrichment to Pigs and Broiler Chickens Housed in Intensive Systems.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Efficient Aggressive Behavior Recognition of Pigs Based on Temporal Shift Module.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Evaluation of environmental enrichment on productive and behavioral responses of finishing pigs.Tropical animal health and production · 2023Article
- Greek Pig Farmers' Perceptions and Experiences of Tail Biting and Tail Docking.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Consequences of timing of organic enrichment provision on pig performance, health and stress resilience after weaning and regrouping.Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience · 2022Article
- Welfare of pigs on farm.EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority · 2022Article
- Individual behavioral correlates of tail biting in pre-finishing piglets.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2022Article
- Interactive Rooting Towers and Behavioural Observations as Strategies to Reduce Tail Biting on Conventional Pig Fattening Farms.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
- Is There a Link between Suckling and Manipulation Behavior during Rearing in Pigs?Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
- The Evidence for a Causal Link Between Disease and Damaging Behavior in Pigs.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2021Review
- Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Seven Measures to Reduce Tail Biting Lesions in Fattening Pigs.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2021Article
- Evaluation of Tail Lesions of Finishing Pigs at the Slaughterhouse: Associations With Herd-Level Observations.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2021Article
- Does Diversity Matter? Behavioural Differences between Piglets Given Diverse or Similar Forms of Enrichment Pre-Weaning.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Tail biting remains a common problem in pig production. As producers are reluctant to use straw to reduce this behaviour, we review studies on the effectiveness of other types of enrichment. Roughage, hessian sacks, compost, fresh wood, space dividers, rope, and providing new objects regularly can significantly reduce tail damage. These results should be interpreted with some caution, as often only one study per enrichment could be identified. No evidence was found that commonly applied enrichment objects (processed wood, plastic or metal) reduce tail biting significantly unless exchanged regularly, even though multiple studies per type of enrichment were identified. Many studies evaluated the duration of enrichment use, but few evaluated the manner of use. This hampers identification of combinations of enrichment that will satisfy the pig's motivation to eat/smell, bite, root and change enrichments, which is suggested to reduce tail biting. New objects designed to satisfy specific motivations were shown to receive high levels of interaction, but their effectiveness at reducing tail damage remains unknown. More in-depth study of how pigs interact with non-straw enrichment, which motivations this satisfies and how this affects behaviour towards conspecifics, is necessary to optimize enrichment strategies. Optimization is necessary because ceasing tail docking in a way that improves pig welfare requires more effective enrichments than those described in this review, or alternatively, better control over other factors influencing tail biting.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.