Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Pigs
Tail docking
Removal of 1/3 to 1/2 of
the tail
3 days-8 weeks of age
Prevent tail biting by other
pigs.
Teeth clipping
Clip or grind off the
canine teeth of piglets
3-8 days of age
Reduce injury to littermates or
to the udder during nursing
by piglets
Castration of males
Removal of testicles
from piglets not used
for breeding purposes
3 days-8 weeks of age
Prevent boar taint (in meat)
and aggressive behavior
problems
Animal Identification
Cutting a small
triangular section out
of the edge of a pig's
ear
3-8 days of age
Provides a permanent,
inexpensive identification
system to individually
identify animals
Poultry
(chickens
and turkeys)
Beak trimming
Beaks are trimmed and
no more than 1/2
and 1/3 of the upper
and lower beak is
removed, respectively.
1-10 days after hatching or
18-16 weeks of age
Prevent cannibalism and
pecking between birds that
may lead to skin injuries or
feather loss
Claw removal of males
Removal of the last joint
of the inside toes of
male breeding birds
1-3 days of age
Prevent injuries to hens during
mating
