Dutch official must review whether three pig farms broke tail-docking rules

A Dutch court ordered the agriculture state secretary to review tail docking at three pig farms after an animal-welfare group challenged her refusal to act.

Tail docking means cutting or shortening piglets’ tails, a practice farmers say helps prevent pigs from biting one another.

The practice is banned in the Netherlands except in limited cases, including when piglets are no more than four days old, injuries have been found, and steps to prevent biting have first been tried.

The state secretary had rejected the group’s requests, saying the rules did not clearly explain when action was required.

The court said the rules give officials enough guidance to enforce the ban.

The state secretary must decide within six months whether the three farmers met the conditions and whether enforcement is needed.

The animal-welfare group says better living conditions could reduce tail biting and hopes the ruling will lead farmers to change their barns.