Tail biting results in welfare and production problems. The objective of this study was to identify common behavioural factors among pigs that tail bite. At three and six weeks of age (before and after weaning) pigs were individually tested in a tail chew test. This test consisted of observing each pig’s behaviour in response to two ropes (one soaked in saline, the other not). The time spent in contact with the rope in the second tail chew test (after weaning) was positively correlated with tail biting behaviour. The time spent in contact with the rope in the first tail chew test was positively correlated with ear biting behaviour. Pigs that spent more than 1.5% of their time engaged in tail biting behaviour weighed less at weaning and tended to weigh less at seven weeks of age than pigs that spent less time performing tail biting behaviour. The authors suggest that nutritional deficiencies could be at the core of the tail biting problem. The nutritional deficiencies could cause the pigs to engage in foraging behaviour directed at other pigs in the form of ear/tail biting.