130. Mutilations can cause considerable pain and therefore constitute a major welfare insult to farm animals. FAWC considers that, on ethical grounds, the mutilation of livestock is undesirable in principle. However, there are systems throughout farming where such procedures may be necessary to avoid worse problems, largely due to aggression, as the animals grow. In this study we have considered nose-ringing, tooth-clipping, tail-docking, castration and individual identification by ear notching or tagging. We are concerned about the present position regarding nose-ringing, tooth-clipping and tail-docking. We believe that without effective analgesia these will inflict pain on the pig.
131. At the outset, we wish to state that all farmers should consider carefully the necessity for performing any mutilation on pigs and we hope that as many as possible will choose to avoid these operations. However, we recognise that there will be farms on which these procedures are considered essential for the reasons set out below. If the operations are performed they must be carried out in a manner which minimises pain and distress to the animal.
132. High standards of hygiene are essential. Correct use of equipment (especially the maintenance of sterile conditions for syringes, needles and tail-docking and tooth-clipping implements), proper use of dosing guns and correct methods of tail- docking and tooth-clipping, are of great importance in the application of preventive measures against disease. These procedures, if incorrectly carried out, have the potential to cause injury (e.g. abscesses after tooth clipping, gum injuries and mouth damage) and thus prejudice the welfare of the pigs.