Nebraska Swine Report 2005 : Teeth Clipping - Have You Tried to Quit?
By Duane E. Reese, Extension Swine Specialist, University of Nebraska and Barbara E. Straw, Extension Veterinarian, Michigan State University - 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.
Summary and Implications
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 poordoing 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.
Introduction
Pork producers in the USA and other countries used to routinely clip piglets’ “needle-teeth.” However, due to a variety of factors, including, for example, regulatory action in Denmark, fewer piglets have their teeth clipped today. This paper will review the literature and report recent producer experience with teeth clipping 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 leaving
teeth intact results in more
piglet facial lesions. One group of
British researchers using 550 piglets
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 averaged
0.31 and 0.03 (0 = no wounds
and 3 = several wounds) during
the course of lactation for intactteeth
and clipped litters, respectively
in that study. Using the same
scoring system, another group of
British researchers using 30 litters,
reported facial injury scores
averaged 0.37 and 0.10 for intactteeth
and clipped litters, respectively.

Figure 1. Facial laceration caused by needle-teeth
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 Michigan
that examined 318 litters found
that during the first three days of
life facial lesions were nearly twice
as severe in litters with intactteeth
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 removing
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 averaged
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 twentyfive
of the 170 sows (74%) nursed
between nine and 14 piglets, an
indication of the degree of competition
at the udder in this study.
Weight gain and mortality
Despite the occurrence of
facial and udder wounds, there
are no reports of decreased preweaning
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 firstlitter
sows or those of parity six or
greater.
Selective teeth clipping
![]() Figure 2. Infected mouth from teeth clipping |
Possible Teeth Clipping Problems
There are some problems associated 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 infection. 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. Infection 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 intermittently. Usually there is swelling 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 sometimes 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 problem in newly established gilt herds. It’s caused by the bacteria, Staphylococcus 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 piglets 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 infections. 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 producers have tried to stop clipping, but because of greasy pig disease problems they clip routinely.
Further Information
To view the full list of Nebraska Swine Report 2005 articles, click here
Source: University of Nebraska, Lincoln - September 2005