Results from several experiments were reviewed to collect information on the value of piglet “needle-teeth” clipping. The incidence of facial and udder lesions generally is increased when teeth are left intact. However, there is no evidence that these lesions affect piglet mortality or weaning weight. Thus, based on the conditions of these experiments, there is no strong justification for teeth clipping. Many producers have abandoned teeth clipping. Besides saving labor, they report having fewer poor doing piglets and joint infections that can result from teeth clipping. Some producers have tried to stop clipping, but because of greasy pig disease problems they have resumed. Producers who have not tried to stop clipping are advised to clip only half of the litters in a few farrowing groups and observe for possible problems

Reese, Duane

Straw, Barbara E.

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Nebraska Swine Reports Animal Science Department 
January 2005 
Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried to Quit? 
Duane Reese 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, dreese1@unl.edu 
Barbara E. Straw 
Michigan State University 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/coopext_swine 
 Part of the Animal Sciences Commons 
Reese, Duane and Straw, Barbara E., "Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried to Quit?" (2005). Nebraska Swine 
Reports. 33. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/coopext_swine/33 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Swine Reports by 
an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
2005 Nebraska Swine Report — Page 12
Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried to Quit?
Duane E. Reese
Barbara E. Straw1
Summary and Implications
Results from several experiments
were reviewed to collect information
on the value of piglet “needle-neeth”
clipping. The incidence of facial and
udder lesions generally is increased
when teeth are left intact. However,
there is no evidence that these lesions
affect piglet mortality or weaning
weight. Thus, based on the condi-
tions of these experiments, there is
no strong justification for teeth clip-
ping. Many producers have aban-
doned teeth clipping. Besides saving
labor, they report having fewer poor-
doing piglets and joint infections that
can result from teeth clipping. Some
producers have tried to stop clip-
ping, but because of greasy pig dis-
ease problems they have resumed.
Producers who have not tried to stop
clipping are advised to clip only half
of the litters in a few farrowing groups
and observe for possible problems.
Introduction
Pork producers in the USA
and other countries used to rou-
tinely clip piglets’ “needle-teeth.”
However, due to a variety of fac-
tors, including, for example, regu-
latory action in Denmark, fewer
piglets have their teeth clipped
today. This paper will review the
literature and report recent pro-
ducer experience with teeth clip-
ping to clarify the issue for
producers who continue to teeth
clip.
Research Summary on Clipping
Piglets are born with eight
sharp, completed erupted “needle
teeth” that they use to establish
“ownership” over one or more
teats. In the process of fighting
for a position on the udder they
may lacerate the face of littermates
(Figure 1) and sow’s udder.
Facial lesions
Several studies show that leav-
ing teeth intact results in more
piglet facial lesions. One group of
British researchers using 550 pig-
lets in 49 litters indicated the
facial wounds they observed were
relatively superficial and due to
the lack of any ill effects on piglet
health, weight gain or survival,
questioned the importance of the
wounds. Facial injury scores aver-
aged 0.31 and 0.03 (0 = no wounds
and 3 = several wounds) during
the course of lactation for intact-
teeth and clipped litters, respec-
tively in that study. Using the same
scoring system, another group of
British researchers using 30 lit-
ters, reported facial injury scores
averaged 0.37 and 0.10 for intact-
teeth and clipped litters, respec-
tively. There was a statistical
difference between the injury score
means in these studies; however,
the low scores in the intact-teeth
groups indicate the wounds were
minor. Another study in Michi-
gan that examined 318 litters found
that during the first three days of
life facial lesions were nearly twice
as severe in litters with intact-
teeth as in litters with clipped teeth,
but lesions were only about 10%
more severe in clipped litters at
13 days of age.
In contrast, facial lesions in
the intact-teeth group monitored
by Canadian researchers were
severe enough to warrant remov-
ing nine out of 19 litters from their
experiment.
Udder damage
The effect of intact teeth on
udder laceration or damage rate
is small according to two studies.
In the UK, scientists reported mean
udder injury scores (0 = no wounds
and 3 = several wounds) for sows
nursing intact-teeth litters aver-
aged 0.05 over the course of a 21-
day lactation period vs. 0.03 for
those nursing clipped litters.
Canadian researchers reported
only one of 170 sows (0.6%) they
used in the intact-teeth treatment
group had lacerations on the
udder. One hundred and twenty-
five of the 170 sows (74%) nursed
between nine and 14 piglets, an
indication of the degree of com-
petition at the udder in this study.
Weight gain and mortality
Despite the occurrence of
facial and udder wounds, there
Figure 1. Facial laceration caused by needle-teeth.
2005 Nebraska Swine Report — Page 13
are no reports of decreased pre-
weaning weight gain or increased
mortality due to intact needle teeth.
In the Michigan study, nursing
growth rates were similar between
pigs with clipped or intact-teeth,
and pre-weaning mortality was
actually lower among pigs with
intact-teeth that were nursing first-
litter sows or those of parity six or
greater.
Selective teeth clipping
Canadian researchers con-
cluded that piglets use their needle
teeth to compete against litter-
mates for milk and other resources.
Therefore, selective teeth clipping
may be an effective approach to
improving the competitive abil-
ity of low-birth weight piglets. A
total of 346 litters were assigned
to either a control group where
all piglets had their teeth clipped
or an experimental group where
one or more low-birth weight pig-
lets had their teeth left intact.
Overall, the lower-birth weight
piglets benefited from intact-teeth
in terms of lower mortality and
higher weight gain. However, that
benefit was completely offset by
a comparable disadvantage to the
larger littermates whose teeth were
clipped. Therefore, the treatments
had no effect on overall piglet
mortality or weight gain. It did
reduce within-litter 21-day body
weight variation by 15%, leading
to more uniform weaning weights.
However, selective clipping is not
the only way to achieve more uni-
form weaning weights. Proper
crossfostering within 24 hours of
birth to even-up litter size and
piglet bodyweight is effective.
Also, identifying fall-outs quickly
and providing them better nutri-
tion will reduce weaning weight
variation.
Possible Teeth Clipping
Problems
There are some problems asso-
ciated with teeth clipping that
would be eliminated if clipping
was stopped. If teeth clipping is
not done properly, it may result
in damage to the gums or roots of
the teeth. When teeth are clipped
too close to the gum, the gums
may be cut and left open to infec-
tion. Or if the tool used is dull or
broken, instead of neatly cutting
off the sharp points of the teeth, it
may splinter or split the tooth
down through the roots. Infec-
tion that gets into the roots is
extremely painful and prevents
the piglet from eating.
Often the first sign of a tooth
infection is a poor-doing piglet. It
usually will get up to nurse with
its littermates, but suckles inter-
mittently. Usually there is swell-
ing of the snout that is noticeable
from a normal view and when the
mouth is opened the damage is
obvious (Figure 2). The best way
to prevent problems associated
with broken teeth and mouth
infections is to quit teeth clipping.
Joint infections in piglets some-
times are caused by the bacteria
Step suis. The bacteria can enter
the piglet’s blood stream through
damaged gums or broken teeth. If
a piglet with a swollen joint also
has infected teeth it is possible
that damaged equipment or poor
clipping technique is causing the
problem.
Reason to Clip
Facial lesions resulting from
intact-teeth favor development of
greasy pig disease in some herds.
Greasy pig disease is often a prob-
lem in newly established gilt herds.
It’s caused by the bacteria, Sta-
phylococcus hyicus, which lives
on the skin surface. Cuts made in
the skin from intact-teeth teeth
allow the bacteria to enter the body.
Some producers who quit teeth
clipping have noticed more pig-
lets with greasy pig disease and
have resumed clipping.
Conclusion
Many pork producers have
learned that it is not necessary to
clip teeth. In addition, to saving
labor, they report having fewer
poor-doing piglets and joint infec-
tions. These producers would not
have known teeth clipping could
be abandoned had they not tried
to stop. Producers who have not
tried to stop clipping are advised
to clip only half of the litters in a
few farrowing groups and observe
for possible problems. Some pro-
ducers have tried to stop clipping,
but because of greasy pig disease
problems they clip routinely.
1Duane E. Reese is an Extension Swine
Specialist in the Department of Animal
Sciences at the University of Nebraska.
Barbara E. Straw is an Extension Veteri-
narian in the Department of Large Ani-
mal Clinical Sciences at Michigan State
University. References are available at
dreese1@unl.edu by request.
Figure 2. Infected mouth from teeth clipping.


Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried to Quit?

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Swine Reports Animal Science Department January 2005 Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried to Quit? Duane Reese University of Nebraska-Lincoln, dreese1@unl.edu Barbara E. Straw Michigan State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/coopext_swine  Part of the Animal Sciences Commons Reese, Duane and Straw, Barbara E., "Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried to Quit?" (2005). Nebraska Swine Reports. 33. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/coopext_swine/33 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Swine Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 2005 Nebraska Swine Report — Page 12Teeth Clipping — Have You Tried to Quit?Duane E. ReeseBarbara E. Straw1Summary and ImplicationsResults from several experimentswere reviewed to collect informationon the value of piglet “needle-neeth”clipping. The incidence of facial andudder lesions generally is increasedwhen teeth are left intact. However,there is no evidence that these lesionsaffect piglet mortality or weaningweight. Thus, based on the condi-tions of these experiments, there isno strong justification for teeth clip-ping. Many producers have aban-doned teeth clipping. Besides savinglabor, they report having fewer poor-doing piglets and joint infections thatcan result from teeth clipping. Someproducers have tried to stop clip-ping, but because of greasy pig dis-ease problems they have resumed.Producers who have not tried to stopclipping are advised to clip only halfof the litters in a few farrowing groupsand observe for possible problems.IntroductionPork producers in the USAand other countries used to rou-tinely clip piglets’ “needle-teeth.”However, due to a variety of fac-tors, including, for example, regu-latory action in Denmark, fewerpiglets have their teeth clippedtoday. This paper will review theliterature and report recent pro-ducer experience with teeth clip-ping to clarify the issue forproducers who continue to teethclip.Research Summary on ClippingPiglets are born with eightsharp, completed erupted “needleteeth” that they use to establish“ownership” over one or moreteats. In the process of fightingfor a position on the udder theymay lacerate the face of littermates(Figure 1) and sow’s udder.Facial lesionsSeveral studies show that leav-ing teeth intact results in morepiglet facial lesions. One group ofBritish researchers using 550 pig-lets in 49 litters indicated thefacial wounds they observed wererelatively superficial and due tothe lack of any ill effects on piglethealth, weight gain or survival,questioned the importance of thewounds. Facial injury scores aver-aged 0.31 and 0.03 (0 = no woundsand 3 = several wounds) duringthe course of lactation for intact-teeth and clipped litters, respec-tively in that study. Using the samescoring system, another group ofBritish researchers using 30 lit-ters, reported facial injury scoresaveraged 0.37 and 0.10 for intact-teeth and clipped litters, respec-tively. There was a statisticaldifference between the injury scoremeans in these studies; however,the low scores in the intact-teethgroups indicate the wounds wereminor. Another study in Michi-gan that examined 318 litters foundthat during the first three days oflife facial lesions were nearly twiceas severe in litters with intact-teeth as in litters with clipped teeth,but lesions were only about 10%more severe in clipped litters at13 days of age.In contrast, facial lesions inthe intact-teeth group monitoredby Canadian researchers weresevere enough to warrant remov-ing nine out of 19 litters from theirexperiment.Udder damageThe effect of intact teeth onudder laceration or damage rateis small according to two studies.In the UK, scientists reported meanudder injury scores (0 = no woundsand 3 = several wounds) for sowsnursing intact-teeth litters aver-aged 0.05 over the course of a 21-day lactation period vs. 0.03 forthose nursing clipped litters.Canadian researchers reportedonly one of 170 sows (0.6%) theyused in the intact-teeth treatmentgroup had lacerations on theudder. One hundred and twenty-five of the 170 sows (74%) nursedbetween nine and 14 piglets, anindication of the degree of com-petition at the udder in this study.Weight gain and mortalityDespite the occurrence offacial and udder wounds, thereFigure 1. Facial laceration caused by needle-teeth.2005 Nebraska Swine Report — Page 13are no reports of decreased pre-weaning weight gain or increasedmortality due to intact needle teeth.In the Michigan study, nursinggrowth rates were similar betweenpigs with clipped or intact-teeth,and pre-weaning mortality wasactually lower among pigs withintact-teeth that were nursing first-litter sows or those of parity six orgreater.Selective teeth clippingCanadian researchers con-cluded that piglets use their needleteeth to compete against litter-mates for milk and other resources.Therefore, selective teeth clippingmay be an effective approach toimproving the competitive abil-ity of low-birth weight piglets. Atotal of 346 litters were assignedto either a control group whereall piglets had their teeth clippedor an experimental group whereone or more low-birth weight pig-lets had their teeth left intact.Overall, the lower-birth weightpiglets benefited from intact-teethin terms of lower mortality andhigher weight gain. However, thatbenefit was completely offset bya comparable disadvantage to thelarger littermates whose teeth wereclipped. Therefore, the treatmentshad no effect on overall pigletmortality or weight gain. It didreduce within-litter 21-day bodyweight variation by 15%, leadingto more uniform weaning weights.However, selective clipping is notthe only way to achieve more uni-form weaning weights. Propercrossfostering within 24 hours ofbirth to even-up litter size andpiglet bodyweight is effective.Also, identifying fall-outs quicklyand providing them better nutri-tion will reduce weaning weightvariation.Possible Teeth ClippingProblemsThere are some problems asso-ciated with teeth clipping thatwould be eliminated if clippingwas stopped. If teeth clipping isnot done properly, it may resultin damage to the gums or roots ofthe teeth. When teeth are clippedtoo close to the gum, the gumsmay be cut and left open to infec-tion. Or if the tool used is dull orbroken, instead of neatly cuttingoff the sharp points of the teeth, itmay splinter or split the toothdown through the roots. Infec-tion that gets into the roots isextremely painful and preventsthe piglet from eating.Often the first sign of a toothinfection is a poor-doing piglet. Itusually will get up to nurse withits littermates, but suckles inter-mittently. Usually there is swell-ing of the snout that is noticeablefrom a normal view and when themouth is opened the damage isobvious (Figure 2). The best wayto prevent problems associatedwith broken teeth and mouthinfections is to quit teeth clipping.Joint infections in piglets some-times are caused by the bacteriaStep suis. The bacteria can enterthe piglet’s blood stream throughdamaged gums or broken teeth. Ifa piglet with a swollen joint alsohas infected teeth it is possiblethat damaged equipment or poorclipping technique is causing theproblem.Reason to ClipFacial lesions resulting fromintact-teeth favor development ofgreasy pig disease in some herds.Greasy pig disease is often a prob-lem in newly established gilt herds.It’s caused by the bacteria, Sta-phylococcus hyicus, which liveson the skin surface. Cuts made inthe skin from intact-teeth teethallow the bacteria to enter the body.Some producers who quit teethclipping have noticed more pig-lets with greasy pig disease andhave resumed clipping.ConclusionMany pork producers havelearned that it is not necessary toclip teeth. In addition, to savinglabor, they report having fewerpoor-doing piglets and joint infec-tions. These producers would nothave known teeth clipping couldbe abandoned had they not triedto stop. Producers who have nottried to stop clipping are advisedto clip only half of the litters in afew farrowing groups and observefor possible problems. Some pro-ducers have tried to stop clipping,but because of greasy pig diseaseproblems they clip routinely.1Duane E. Reese is an Extension SwineSpecialist in the Department of AnimalSciences at the University of Nebraska.Barbara E. Straw is an Extension Veteri-narian in the Department of Large Ani-mal Clinical Sciences at Michigan StateUniversity. References are available atdreese1@unl.edu by request.Figure 2. Infected mouth from teeth clipping.

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