Correct Methods and Operating Steps for Piglet Tail Docking

Pigs have a very bad habit of liking to bite objects that are easily reachable by their mouths, so when pigs are raised in groups, everyone will find that the pigs' tails are removed, otherwise they are easily bitten off by other pigs. So how should piglets' tails be removed? Below, the editor of Qinnong Network brings you several methods.

1. Cutting off

Cutting off with scissors is a method with a relatively long history. At first, it became widespread because the tools for this method were the easiest to find. It must be done when the piglets are very young. First, the scissors must be disinfected, then the piglet's tail area must be cleaned and disinfected. The scissors should be a bit sharp to avoid causing injury to the piglet. Find the spot to be cut and cut down with force to reduce the piglet's pain. After cutting, bandage and disinfect immediately to avoid later infection.

2. Cautery cutting

This is a method developed later with advances in science and technology. After cautery cutting, it is not easy to infect with germs, but it very easily causes the piglet to be scalded. The branding iron must be heated well before branding to ensure the temperature reaches the standard. After finding the right spot, press down firmly so that it can break as quickly as possible. After cautery cutting, the tail is very difficult to grow back later, which can also be considered a relatively good point of this method. This method must be carried out when the piglet is very young; only then is the effect the best.

3. Tying off

This is one gradually developed later. The cycle is relatively long, and its advantage lies in allowing the pig's tail to fall off naturally. The method is very simple: use something with very strong elasticity, such as the elastic tube used to tie the hand during blood transfusion. It must be smaller than the pig's tail, then cut off a section and place it at the position where you want to cut off. The first time it is placed, it must tightly bind the pig's tail. This will make it impossible for the pig's body to transport nutrients to the latter half of the tail that is tied off, and after a long time it will automatically necrose and fall off. This necrosis method is currently one of the more commonly used ones.

4. Clamping off

Clamping off is one of the most effective physical methods for removing pig tails. With scissors and the like, there may still be cases where one cut does not fully cut it off, but this method does not have that problem. Generally, a relatively large steel clamp is chosen, so it is faster. Both before and after must be disinfected, and for clamping off, attention must also be paid to preventing whether it will cause necrotic parts of the pig's tail to remain. If there are any, they must be removed in time. This method is currently relatively niche, because it tests a person's technique, so it is not recommended for non-experts to do this.

Piglet tail docking is beneficial. After tail docking, their growth efficiency can be improved, and secondly, it can also prevent infection of the pig itself after the tail is accidentally injured. There are many examples of pigs becoming infected with swine diseases because their tails were bitten on pig farms, so nowadays many pig farms dock tails on a large scale. The age for tail docking should be as early as possible; otherwise, the harm to the pig is relatively greater.