PigCHAMP Pro Europa S.L.

…Author details 1 PigCHAMP Pro Europa S.L. c, Santa Catalina, 10, Segovia, Spain. 2Zoetis Inc, Hoge Wei 10, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium. 3Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland. Received…

…Author details 1 PigCHAMP Pro Europa S.L. c, Santa Catalina, 10, Segovia, Spain. 2Zoetis Inc, Hoge Wei 10, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium. 3Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland. Received…

…Author details 1 PigCHAMP Pro Europa S.L. c, Santa Catalina, 10, Segovia, Spain. 2Zoetis Inc, Hoge Wei 10, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium. 3Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland. Received…

rk and to reduce male specific behaviour, farmers have traditionally castrated their male piglets surgically and the procedure is still common in most countries. As this has usually been done without any pain relief, this measure faces strong public criticism. European stakeholders committed themselves to end this practice from 2018, but today, 75% of male piglets are still surgically castrated in the EU. Pain relief during and/or after surgery is increasingly used in some Western European countries to avoid suffering of the animals, but the surgery and risk of infections remain. Alternatives without surgical castration in pork production are raising entire males or immunocastration. Entire males have the advantage of a high growth potential and a good feed conversion rate, but the risk of boar taint and welfare problems due to male behavior limit the acceptance by the pork chain. Immunocastration reduces these problems but also decreases, in part, the anabolic advantage of males. To find country-specific, tailored solutions, there is a need to bundle the research activities along the pork chain and to spread scientific information to increase the acceptance of alternatives by farmers, industry and consumers. 1. Introduction For a very long time, farmers have been castrating their male piglets surgically without any pain relief. The practice is still common in most countries, but it is increasingly facing strong criticism because of the pain associated with the surgery. The suffering incurred by the animal during the surgical process and the following days has been well documented during the last 15 years. In 2010, European stakeholders had already committed themselves to end this practice and to develop pork production systems by 2018 that are independent of surgical

…Author details 1 PigCHAMP Pro Europa S.L. c, Santa Catalina, 10, Segovia, Spain. 2Zoetis Inc, Hoge Wei 10, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium. 3Teagasc, Pig Development Department, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland. Received…

for the development analgesia for all pigs and other alternatives for pigs used in traditional pro- of this manuscript. ducts. [Online] Available at: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/ publication/5fe8db00…

for the development analgesia for all pigs and other alternatives for pigs used in traditional pro- of this manuscript. ducts. [Online] Available at: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/ publication/5fe8db00…

…Johnson, C.B.; Sylvester, S.P.; Stafford, K.J.; Mitchinson, S.L.; Ward, R.N.; Mellor, D.J. Effects of age on the electroencephalographic response to castration in lambs anaesthetized with halothane…

…Johnson, C.B.; Sylvester, S.P.; Stafford, K.J.; Mitchinson, S.L.; Ward, R.N.; Mellor, D.J. Effects of age on the electroencephalographic response to castration in lambs anaesthetized with halothane…

rk and to reduce male specific behaviour, farmers have traditionally castrated their male piglets surgically and the procedure is still common in most countries. As this has usually been done without any pain relief, this measure faces strong public criticism. European stakeholders committed themselves to end this practice from 2018, but today, 75% of male piglets are still surgically castrated in the EU. Pain relief during and/or after surgery is increasingly used in some Western European countries to avoid suffering of the animals, but the surgery and risk of infections remain. Alternatives without surgical castration in pork production are raising entire males or immunocastration. Entire males have the advantage of a high growth potential and a good feed conversion rate, but the risk of boar taint and welfare problems due to male behavior limit the acceptance by the pork chain. Immunocastration reduces these problems but also decreases, in part, the anabolic advantage of males. To find country-specific, tailored solutions, there is a need to bundle the research activities along the pork chain and to spread scientific information to increase the acceptance of alternatives by farmers, industry and consumers. 1. Introduction For a very long time, farmers have been castrating their male piglets surgically without any pain relief. The practice is still common in most countries, but it is increasingly facing strong criticism because of the pain associated with the surgery. The suffering incurred by the animal during the surgical process and the following days has been well documented during the last 15 years. In 2010, European stakeholders had already committed themselves to end this practice and to develop pork production systems by 2018 that are independent of surgical