Pig Castration and its Alternatives

Table of Contents

1. What this is about, who it is by and who it is for
   1. Orientation
   2. Aims and objectives
2. Introductory Quiz
3. Extent of pig production in the EU
4. Pig Castration in the EU
   1. Extent of Pig Castration in the EU
   2. How the prevalence of castration varies in different EU countries
   3. Proportion of pigs castrated across the countries of the EU
5. Consequences of raising entire male pigs
   1. What is boar taint and what causes it?
   2. Compounds related to boar taint
   3. Factors related to the presence of boar taint compounds.
   4. How boar taint compounds are perceived by consumers
   5. Anosmia
6. Methods of Pig Castration
7. Alternatives to Castration
   1. Production only of entire (uncastrated) males
   2. Production only of females / Spermatic selection
   3. Immunocastration
   4. Castration with anaesthesia and analgesia
   5. Summary of advantages and disadvantages of alternative methods
8. Attitudes of producers and consumers towards pig production methods
   1. Attitudes of the producers
   2. Attitudes of consumers
9. Summary and Post Tutorial Test
10. For more information
    1. References

Attitudes of the producers

1

Which method of pig castration or alternative approach would you expect to be the LEAST acceptable to European pig producers? a) Immunocastration b) Castration without anaesthesia c) Production of entire males d) Castration with anaesthesia and analgesia Yes that's right. In the PIGCAS project (M. Bonneau), a test of attitudes about pig castration was derived from about 200 representatives of producers around European Union. In most of the countries the "production of entire males" was considered the least appropriate technique to apply. In general, the most appropriate technique was thought to be "castration without anaesthesia" followed by "castration with anaesthesia"No, that's not right. In the PIGCAS project (M. Bonneau), a test of attitudes about pig castration was derived from about 200 representatives of producers around European Union. In most of the countries the "production of entire males" was considered the least appropriate technique to apply. In general, the most appropriate technique was thought to be "castration without anaesthesia" followed by "castration with anaesthesia"Your answer has been saved.

For a map showing how the producers' preference for different methods varies across different EU countries, follow this link.