In this study, interactions between housing factors and the prevalence of pig tail-biting were investigated, and the prevalence of tail-biting in integrated and finishing units was compared. The results are based on material from the carcass line of an abattoir during one week, information collected by the abattoir about conditions on farming units (29 quality classified farming units, 1916 animals). On the abattoir line, the quality and length of the tail of each animal was recorded. Based on the results, the farms with the lowest (6 % or less of the animals) and the highest (at least 20 % of the animals) prevalence of tail biting were selected and their conditions analyzed. In addition, the prevalence of tail-biting in integrated and finishing units was compared.
Pigs from 51 integrated units (1956 animals) and 98 finishing units (7057 animals) were included. Usage of partially slatted floors and liquid manure management were more common on the farms with the highest prevalence of tail-biting. Compared to the low prevalence group, feeding of the animals was more often restricted, based on by-products from the food industry or conducted with automatic feeders. On the farms with the highest prevalence of tail-biting, the amount of animals per pen was greater than on the farms with the lowest prevalence. Tail-biting prevalence was higher in integrated than in finishing units.