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Teeth Clipping in Piglets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

J.B. Brookes  and
I.J. Lean
J.B. Brookes
Affiliation:
Wye College, University of London, Wye, Ashford, Kent. TN25 5AH.
I.J. Lean
Affiliation:
Wye College, University of London, Wye, Ashford, Kent. TN25 5AH.
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Extract

Piglets are born with 8 very sharp ‘needle-teeth’ - 4 incisors and 4 canines. These pointed teeth grow outwards, two on either side in each jaw, leaving an open space in the front of the mouth. In intensively run units, the tips of these teeth are usually removed soon after birth, using a pair of side cutter pliers. This is said to reduce the severity of piglet face wounding, caused by natural competition for space at the udder and during play. Reducing injury by clipping teeth is also said to limit the sites of entry for micro-organisms. Blunt clippers and clipping teeth too close to the gum can shatter teeth, providing places of entry for microbes and leaving sharp edges which can lead to deep wounds in tongues and lips. The aim of this trial was to determine whether grinding teeth is a preferable alternative to clipping teeth

Type
Assessing Animal Welfare
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1993: Winter meeting , March 1993 , pp. 75
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1993

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