Stephanie Torrey University of Guelph

Publish Date: April 5, 2012

Neonatal piglets are routinely processed during their first week of life. Processing may include teeth clipping, ear notching, tail docking, and administering supplemental iron. In addition, piglets are sometimes cross-fostered, and male piglets are routinely castrated. Many routine procedures conducted on the baby piglet are coming under scrutiny from scientists and consumers on animal welfare grounds because they cause pain or distress and they are usually performed without the use of anesthesia or analgesia. Therefore it is important to carefully consider the costs and benefits of such procedures to the animal - in terms of long-term health, productivity and welfare. It is also important to perform procedures at appropriate times and to use the most humane techniques available.