Castration and alternatives in pig: advantages and disadvantages

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Acta fytotechn zootechn, 24, 2021(1): 60–63 http://www.acta.fapz.uniag.sk Review Castration and alternatives in pig: advantages and disadvantages Terézia Hegerová, Peter Juhás* Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Department of Animal Husbandry, Slovakia Article Details: Received: 2020-07-07 | Accepted: 2020-11-05 | Available online: 2021-03-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.01.60-63 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of various alternatives to the surgical castration of piglets. Producers use castrations against boar taint which is present in the meat. Alternative methods could be immunocastration, production with entire male pigs or castration with anesthesia and/or analgesia. Production with entire male pigs means to feed pigs to lower carcasses, as the boar taint is very low at that time. But this method is not suitable for all especially If pigs need to be fattened up to 180–200 kg. Castration with anesthesia and analgesia reduces pain and is suitable for welfare but the cost of anesthesia and analgesia is high for some producers. The expense of immunocastration is also higher than for entire pigs but advantages of this method are higher meat percentage, better carcass quality, improved feed conversion ratio. Keywords: castration, immunocastration, boar taint, entire male pigs, castration with anesthesia or analgesia 1 Introduction implementation of these techniques with adequate The pork producers castrate male piglets to reduce boar facilities and hygiene conditions (Bee et al., 2015). taint – formed by the compounds androstenone and ––For piglets over 7 days of age, castration may only skatole, which cause

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itions (Bee et al., 2015). taint – formed by the compounds androstenone and ––For piglets over 7 days of age, castration may only skatole, which cause an undesirable odor in the meat and be performed under anesthesia and long-term for controlling sexual and aggressive behavior. Surgical analgesia under the supervision of a veterinarian castration is usually performed without anesthesia (Bee et al., 2015). or analgesia. Castration is painful procedure for male piglets (Prunier et al., 2006) and may adversely affect 2 Castrations and alternatives methods performance (von Borell et al., 2009; Aluwé. et al., 2014). in pigs Newborn piglets begin to perceive within minutes to hours after birth (Mellor et al., 2004; Mellor et al., 2003). 2.1 Immunocastration For these reasons many European countries committed Immunocastration is one of the leading and very useful to stop surgical castration by 2018, provided that suitable alternative methods to surgical castration. It is an active alternative solutions would be found. Some countries method (vaccination) against gonadotropin-releasing started to use alternatives without pain relief. But there factor (GnRF) (Batorek et al., 2012). It is used to reduce the are still many surgically castrated piglets in EU (75% from production of sex hormones in male piglets. In females all piglets). At this time none of the available alternatives piglets suppresses the ovarian cycle. Immunocastration are fully satisfying. shows no inner chemical or hormonal activity (Dunshea et al., 2001; Bohrer et al., 2014; Čandek-Potokar et al., Male piglets castrations can be performed by: 2017). ––In the case of piglets less than seven days old, castration shall only be carried out by a veterinarian The vaccination procedure consists of the

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). ––In the case of piglets less than seven days old, castration shall only be carried out by a veterinarian The vaccination procedure consists of the administration doctor or a person who has required knowledge of two subcutaneous doses at least four weeks apart, in animal welfare and who has skills in the a second dose being given four to six weeks before *Corresponding Author: Peter Juhás, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Department of Animal Husbandry, Tr. Andreja Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia © Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources 60 Acta fytotechn zootechn, 24, 2021(1): 60–63 http://www.acta.fapz.uniag.sk slaughter. To reduce testosterone and androsterone 2.2 Entire male pigs levels in piglets, we apply a second dose. This causes the Another alternative method to surgical castration is resulting levels of androsterone and testosterone to be production with entire male pigs. The main problem very similar to those in castrated pigs within two weeks with this method is that entire male piglets could be (Brunius et al., 2011). The resulting quality of the meat aggressive and have a more active sexual behaviour, may be affected by the time between the last vaccination which is not good for welfare. Researches point out, the and slaughter (Aluwé et al., 2013). Results which we standard behaviour may cause and increase in prevalence get could be very depending on genetics (D‘Souza of lameness or cutaneous lesions (Holinger, 2015). and Mullan, 2003) and feeding process (Needham and Aggression occurs in groups of whole male pigs, that can Hoffman, 2015). lead to chronic stress. For welfare, stress is perceived as For vaccination of male piglets against boar

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of whole male pigs, that can Hoffman, 2015). lead to chronic stress. For welfare, stress is perceived as For vaccination of male piglets against boar taint it can be an undesirable factor that affects health and behavior. use Improvac (made by Pfizer Ltd.) which is approved and Stress can be described as a situation of threatened licensed for the using in the EU. Some non EU countries homeostasis or perceived threatened homeostasis due like Australia, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand also use to a short-term (acute) or long-term, mostly repeated Improvac (Tuyttens, 2011). Improvac is not a typical (chronic) stressor (Moberg, 2000). vaccine. The difference between improvac and other Some countries like England, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands vaccines is that a typical vaccines induce the production etc. have started to feed pigs to lower carcasses because of antibodies against a foreign pathogen while improvac the boar taint is very low at that time. Local farmers in these stimulates the production of antibodies against GnRH. countries have good expertise to manage such farms. When immunocastration was introduced as alternative Breeding of piglets needs to have good management methods to surgical castration, some customers were and housing conditions have to meet their specific skeptical. It was from the fear for residuals in meat needs (good staff, quality food with lot of nutrition, and unknown long-term consequences to consumer. optimal space) which is really important in lower weight Customers also expected that the use of vaccination categories. Breeding piglets to lower weight categories could become more expensive in final pricing. Customers as alternative method to surgical castration is a more were in two groups, first thought that immunocastration acceptable way

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final pricing. Customers as alternative method to surgical castration is a more were in two groups, first thought that immunocastration acceptable way because this method respect the physical is a more humane method for reducing pain and the integrity of the animals. But this method is not suitable second one had doubts about the welfare benefits of the for all farmers because some pigs need to be fattened up method. Some customers also commented that this had to 180–200 kg. With a low risk of boar taint, pigs can be to be some sort of a hormone, which was considered as fed to a weight of 100–110 kg bodyweight (Dostálová et negative. Most of the customers thought that present al., 2008). Adam (1978) evaluated androstenone levels in practice (surgical castration) is fully acceptable and for this different live weights of 60, 75 and 90 kg in his study. Pigs reason can´t see necessity of an alternative. In summary at 60 kg showed an androstenone level in the range of most studies reported acceptance of immunocastration 0.4 to 1.0 mg g-1, while pigs at 90 kg had a range of 0.5 to from consumer side (Lagerkvist et al., 2006; Giffin et al., 2.6 mg g-1. 2008;), but we can find studies in Switzerland (Huber- Advantages: without castration, simple, less labour, -Eicher and Spring, 2008) and from Norway (Fredriksen et increased meat content and good quality of the carcass, al., 2010) which reported better acceptance for castration better feed conversion ratio, there is a smaller chance with anaesthesia than for immunucoastration. for complications or possible infections in case of Advantages: without castration, there is a smaller chance cryptorchidism or inguinal hernia (Aluwé, 2015). for complications or possible infections in case of Disadvantages: do not eliminate

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a smaller chance cryptorchidism or inguinal hernia (Aluwé, 2015). for complications or possible infections in case of Disadvantages: do not eliminate aggressive, active and cryptorchidism or inguinal hernia, better feed conversion sexual behaviours, increased probability of lame piglets ratio, increased meat content and good quality of the (Aluwé, 2015). carcass (Aluwé, 2015). Disadvantages: possible chance of accidental self- 2.3 Castration with anesthesia and/or analgesia vaccination, high product costs, challenging evaluation Many countries banned surgical castration of piglets of the success of the vaccination, sometimes a third without anesthesia, and in these countries are piglets vaccination is required, currently limited market options, castrated with full or local anesthesia and analgesia. producers question the necessity of immunocastration In these coutries if breeders want to get a higher because the prevalence of boar taint was low when quality certificate, they must perform castration with producing EM (Aluwé, 2015). at least analgesia. It must be noted that analgesia during castration reduced pain and doesn’t eliminate it © Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources 61 Acta fytotechn zootechn, 24, 2021(1): 60–63 http://www.acta.fapz.uniag.sk sufficiently. Therefore, if castration is necessary, it should Aluwé, M., Tuyttens, F. A. M. and Millet, S. (2015). be performed under effective anesthesia and analgesia Field experience with surgical castration with anaesthesia, to reduce post-operative pain (Némethová, 2018). analgesia, immunocastration and production of entire male pigs: performance, carcass traits and boar taint prevalence. Using local anesthesia (LA) before castration could to Animal: an

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oduction of entire male pigs: performance, carcass traits and boar taint prevalence. Using local anesthesia (LA) before castration could to Animal: an international journal of animal bioscience, 9(3), 500. have a positive effect on long term weight gain of pigs, doi:10.1017/s1751731114002894 indicating that this technique is good for welfare for pigs Aluwé, M., Vanhonacker, F., Millet, S. and Tuyttens, and also has economic benefits for producers (Telles, A. M. (2015). Influence of hands-on experience on pig farmers‘ attitude towards alternatives for surgical castration of male 2016). piglets. Research in Veterinary Science, 103, 80–86. Advantages: less painful for animal (during and after doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.09.019 castration), increased wound healing and decreased Batorek, N., Candek-Potokar, M., Bonneau, M. inflammation, better active behaviour after the procedure and Van Milgen, J. (2012). Meta-analysis of the effect of immunocastration on production performance, reproductive (Aluwé, 2015). organs and boar taint compounds in pigs. Animal: an Disadvantages: no demonstrable changes for welfare, international journal of animal bioscience, 6(8), 1330. expensive cost, no major changes in behavior, for whole doi:10.1017/s1751731112000146 procedure piglets must get three injections, (two for Bee, G., Chevillon, P. and Bonneau, M. (2015). Entire male pig production in Europe. Animal Production Science, 55(12), castration and one for analgesic) (Aluwé, 2015). 1347–1359. doi:10.1071/an15279 Bohrer, B. M., Flowers, W. L., Kyle, J. M., Johnson, 3 Conclusions S. S., King, V. L., Spruill, J. L. and Boler, D. D. (2014). Effect of gonadotropin releasing factor suppression with an Of these alternative castration methods, we are unable to immunological on growth

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(2014). Effect of gonadotropin releasing factor suppression with an Of these alternative castration methods, we are unable to immunological on growth performance, estrus activity, carcass accurately determine which is the best. Each mentioned characteristics, and meat quality of market gilts. Journal of alternative has its positive and negative characteristics. animal science, 92(10), 4719–4724. doi:10.2527/jas.2014-7756 The final decision and the choice of method will be Brunius, C., Zamaratskaia, G., Andersson, K., Chen, determined by the specific breeders on the basis of their G., Norrby, M., Madej, A. and Lundström, K. (2011). Early conditions. In the future, if there is a total ban on classical immunocastration of male pigs with Improvac® – Effect on castration, exemptions should be granted to production boar taint, hormones and reproductive organs. Vaccine, 29(51), systems which have high constraints pertaining to a high 9514–9520. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.10.014 slaughter weight, a high fat content of the products, or Čandek-Potokar, M., Škrlep, M. and Zamaratskaia, G. (2017). Immunocastration as alternative to surgical outdoor rearing. castration in pigs. Theriogenology, 6, 109–126. doi:10.5772/intechopen.68650 Acknowledgments D’Souza, D. N. and Mullan, B. P. (2003). The effect The article was supported by KEGA 015SPU-4/2019. of genotype and castration method on the eating quality This publication was supported by the Operational characteristics of pork from male pigs. Animal Science, 77(1), Programme Integrated Infrastructure within the project: 67–72. doi:10.1017/s1357729800053650 Sustainable smart farming systems taking into account Dostálová, A., Koucký, M. and Průšová, V. (2008). Výkrm kanečků v podmínkách ekologického

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