European Declaration on alternatives to surgical castration of pigs
Surgical castration, practiced for centuries to remove an unpleasant odor from pork known as 'boar taint' and prevent undesirable sexual and aggressive behaviour in pigs, has become a significant animal welfare concern in recent years. Research has proven that this surgical procedure inflicts pain, even on very young pigs.
Castrations have been normally performed without using anaesthesia or analgesia. This has affected some hundreds of millions animals annually. With changing social values, however, many consumers have called for pigs to be treated with less painful and invasive practices.
On the invitation of the European Commission and the Belgian Presidency and following a workshop on alternatives for pig castration, representatives of European farmers, meat industry, retailers, scientists, veterinarians and animal welfare NGOs met in Brussels to discuss the issue of pig castration and its possible alternatives, and to consider the possibilities to end this practice. The working group met three times in 2010.
As a first step, the organisations which voluntarily signed the declaration agreed to use prolonged analgesia and/or anaesthesia when performing surgical castration of pigs from 1 January 2012. Nevertheless castration with analgesia and/or anaesthesia is not an alternative option.
As a second step and in the long term, surgical castration of pigs should be abandoned by 1 January 2018.
Documents
IMPORTANT: Endorse the Declaration
Contact:sante-pigcastration-declaration@ec.europa.eu
The European Partnership on Pig Castration aims to:
- develop methods to phase out the surgical castration of pigs by 2018,
- make sure that costs of transition are shared in a fair way.
According to the Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, it is required that all procedures intended as an intervention carried out for other than therapeutic or diagnostic purposes or for the identification of the pigs in accordance with relevant legislation and resulting in damage to or the loss of a sensitive part of the body, or the alteration of bone structure, shall be prohibited.
The castration of male pigs by other means than tearing of tissues constitutes an exception to the requirement described above. As provided in the Directive and experienced in performing the applied techniques with appropriate means and under hygienic conditions. If castration is practised after the seventh day of life, it shall only be performed under anaesthetic and additional prolonged analgesia by a veterinarian.
Piglet castration in Germany is a further example of best practice followed within the European Union and one form of implementation.
Currently there are two different alternatives to surgical castration of pigs:
Rearing entire male pigs
Alternative Option: Vaccination
Detection and causes of boar taint
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- Claudi-Magnussen, C., et al (2011). "Sensory evaluation of boar taint – training and attributes." 57th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, 7-12 August 2011, Ghent, Belgium.
- Dijksterhuis, G.B., et al (2000). "An international study on the importance of androstenone and skatole for boar taint: II. Sensory evaluation by trained panels in seven European countries." Meat Science, Vol. 54, No. 3, p.261-269.
- Hansen-Møller, Jens and Andersen, Jan Rud (1994). "Boar taint; analytical alternatives." Danish Meat Research Institute, Manuscript No. 1209 E.
- Jensen, Werner Klinth (1998). "Skatole and boar taint. Results from an integrated national research project investigating causes of boar taint in Danish pigs." Danish Meat Research Institute, Roskilde.
- Robic A., et al (2008). "Genetic and metabolic aspects of androstenone and skatole deposition in pig adipose tissue: A review." Genetics Selection Evolution, Vol. 40, p.129-143.
- Maria Font-i-Furnols, et al (2012). "Consumer studies on sensory acceptability of boar taint: A review. " Meat Science, MESC-05724; No of Pages 11.
- M. Blanch, N. Panella-Riera, p.Chevillon, M. Font i Furnols, M. Gil, J.M. Gil, Z. Kallas, M.A. Oliver, et al (2012). "Impact of consumer's sensitivity to androstenone on acceptability of meat from entire male pigs in three European countries: France, Spain and United Kingdom." Meat Science, 90 p.572–578.
- M. Font-i-Furnols, M. Gispert, J. Soler, M. Diaz, J.A. Garcia-Regueiro, I. Diaz, M.C. Pearce, et al (2012). "Effect of vaccination against gonadotrophin-releasing factor on growth performance, carcass, meat and fat quality of male Duroc pigs for dry-cured ham production. " Meat Science, 91, p.148–154.
- E. Fàbrega, M. Gispert, J. Tibau, M. Hortós, M.A. Oliver, M. Font i Furnols, et al (2011). "Effect of housing system, slaughter weight and slaughter strategy on carcass and meat quality, sex organ development and androstenone and skatole levels in Duroc finished entire male pigs. " Meat Science, 89, p.434–439.
- Marina Gispert, M. Àngels Oliver, Antonio Velarde, Paloma Suarez, Jesús Pérez, Maria Font i Furnols, et al (2010). "Carcass and meat quality characteristics of immunocastrated male, surgically castrated male, entire male and female pigs. " Meat Science, 85, p.664–670.
- M. Font i Furnols, J. González, M. Gispert, M.A. Oliver, M. Hortós, J. Pérez, p.Suárez, L. Guerrero, et al (2009). "Sensory characterization of meat from pigs vaccinated against gonadotropin releasing factor compared to meat from surgically castrated, entire male and female pigs. " Meat Science, 83, p.438–442.
- B. Fredriksen, M. Font i Furnols, K. Lundström, W. Migdal, A. Prunier, F. A. M. Tuyttens and M. Bonneau, et al (2009). "Practice on castration of piglets in Europe. " The Animal Consortium, 3:11, pp 1480–1487.
- M. Font i Furnols, M. Gispert, L. Guerrero, A. Velarde, J. Tibau, J. Soler, M. Hortós, J.A. García-Regueiro, J. Pérez, p.Suárez, M.A. Oliver, et al (2008). "Consumers’ sensory acceptability of pork from immunocastrated male pigs. " Meat Science, 80, p.1013–1018.
- M. Font i Furnols, M. Gispert, A. Diestre, M.A. Oliver, et al (2003). "Acceptability of boar meat by consumers depending on their age, gender, culinary habits, and sensitivity and appreciation of androstenone odour. " Meat Science, 64, p.433–440. U. Weiler, M.
- Font i Furnols, K. Fischer, H. Kemmer, M.A. Oliver, M. Gispert, A. Dobrowolski, R. Claus, et al (2000). "Influence of differences in sensitivity of Spanish and German consumers to perceive androstenone on the acceptance of boar meat differing in skatole and androstenone concentrations. " Meat Science, 54, p.297-304.
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Genetic Variation of an Odorant Receptor OR7D4 and Sensory Perception of Cooked Meat Containing Androstenone , Lunde, K., at al (2012). "Genetic Variation of an Odorant Receptor OR7D4 and Sensory Perception of Cooked Meat Containing Androstenone". PLoS ONE 7(5): e35259. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.003525
Rearing entire male pigs
- Aluwe, M., et al (2009). "Absence of an effect of dietary fibre or clinoptilolite on boar taint in entire male pigs fed practical diets." Meat Science, Vol. 2, No. 3, p.346-352.
- Andersen, Jan Rud (1997). "Production of Entire Male Pigs; the Danish Perspective." Slagteriernes Forskningsinstitut, Danish Meat Research Institute, Ref. No. 01.705.
- Bonneau, M. (1998). "Use of entire males for pig meat in the European Union." Meat Science, Vol. 49, p.257-272.
- Fuchs, Thilo, et al (2011). "Comparative growth performance of pigs immunised with a gonadotrophin releasing factor vaccine with surgically castrated pigs and entire boars raised under conventionally managed conditions." Berliner und München Tierärztliche Wochenschrift, 124, Heft 1, 2, p.22-27.
- Lundström K., et al (2009). "Pig meat quality from entire males." Animal, Vol. 3, No. 11, p.1497-1507. Pauly, C., et al (2008). "Performances, meat quality and boar taint of castrates and entire male pigs fed a standard and a raw potato starch-enriched diet." Animal, Vol. 2, No. 11, p.1707-1715.
- Zamaratskaia G., and Squires, E.J. (2009). "Biochemical, nutritional and genetic effects on boar taint in entire male pigs." Animal, Vol. 3, p.1508-1521.
Vaccination against boar taint
- Dunshea, F.R., et al (2001). "Vaccination of boars with a GnRH vaccine (Improvac) eliminates boar taint and increases growth performance." J. Anim. Sci., 79, p.2524-2535.
- Miclat-Sonaco, R., et al. "Improvac® immunized male pigs compared to surgical castrates: production performance, control of boar taint and carcass quality." Agricultural Training Institute-International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ATI-ITCPH), Lipa City, Philippines.
- Zankl, Anke, et al (2011). "Impfung gegen Ebergeruch – Erfahrungen und Ergebnisse einer Feldstudie in Bayern." Der Praktische Tierarzt, 92, Heft 2, p.148–154. "Improvac: latest developments and advantages for the meat sector." ICoMST 2011, Pfizer Symposium, 9 August 2011.
Anaesthesia and analgesia
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- F.R., et al (1997). "Ban of the use of metomidate (Hypnodil) in swine. Background, consequences and alternatives." Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere, Vol. 25, p.417-423. Link, M., (2008). "Alternativen zur betäubungslosen Kastration"
- G. Rahmann & U. Schumacher (Hrsg.), Neues aus der Ökologischen Tierhaltung, p.53-60 PROVIEH, (2012) "Ferkelkastration gegen Ebergeruch " DEUTSCHER TIERSCHUTZBUND E.V., (2011) "Verbot der betäubungslosen Kastration von männlichen Saugferkeln - Darstellung der aus Tierschutzsicht geeigneten Alternativen"
- Heinritzi, K., et al (2008) "Kastration im Fokus der Forschung". Tierhaltung, p.136-140
- Hügel, T. (2010) "Überprüfung der Wirksamkeit und Wirtschaftlichkeit der Impfung gegen Ebergeruch im Feldversuch"
Castration and alternatives
- Baumgartner, J., et al (2004). "Aktuelle Aspekte der Kastration männlicher Ferkel. 2. Mitteilung: Alternativmethoden zur chirurgischen Kastration und zusammenfassende Bewertung." Wiener Tierärztliche Monatsschrift, 91, p.198-209.
- Cronin, G.M., et al (2003). "The effects of immunoand surgical castration on the behaviour and consequently growth of group-housed, male finisher pigs." Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 81, p.111-126.
- de Roest K., et al (2009). "Resource efficiency and economic implications of alternatives to surgical castration without anaesthesia." Animal, Vol. 3. p.1522-1531.
- Fredriksen, B., et al (2009). "Practice on castration of piglets in Europe." Animal, Vol. 3, No. 11, p.1480–1487.
- Heid Astrid and Hamm, Ulrich (2010). "Akzeptanz der Alternativen zur betäubungslosen Ferkelkastration durch Öko-Verbraucher. "Praxis-Workshop: Alternativen zur betäubungslosen Ferkelkastration," 11 March 2010, Bonn, Germany.
- Hilbe, M., et al (2006). "Histomorphologische und immunhistochemische Befunde von Hoden, Bulbourethraldrüsen und Gehirn bei immunologisch kastrierten männlichen Ferkeln." Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde, 148, 11, p.599-608.
- Godt, Jannik, et al (1996). "Verbraucherstudie zum Thema dänische männliche, nicht kastrierte Schweine." Fleischwirtschaft, Vol. 76, No. 4, p.383-385.
- Lagerkvist, Carl Johan, et al (2006). "Swedish Consumer Preferences for Animal Welfare and Biotech: A Choice Experiment." AgBioForum, Vol. 9, No. 1, p.51-58.
- Prunier A, et al (2006). "A review of the welfare consequences of surgical castration in piglets and the evaluation of non-surgical methods." Animal Welfare, 15, p.277-89.
- Prunier, A. and Bonneau, M. (2006) "Y a-t-il des alternatives à la castration chirurgicale des porcelets?" INRA Prod. Anim., Vol. 19, No. 5, p.347-356.
- von Borell E, et al (2009). "Animal welfare implications of surgical castration and its alternatives in pigs." Animal, Vol. 3., p.1488-1496.
- Wageningen UR (2008). "Removing the taint: Bottlenecks and possible directions for a solution in the marketing of the meat of non-castrated male pigs." LEI report 2008-027.
- Winfried Matthes, et al (2011). "Ergebnisse in der Ebermast und Konsequenzen." 17. Mitteldeutscher Schweine-Workshop, Bernburg, 28 May 2011.
- Abschlussbericht zum Projekt, "Risikobewertung zum Kastrationsverzicht." Auftraggeber: Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH, Bonn. 1 March 2010 through 31 May 2011. Auftragnehmer: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Department für Nutztierwissenschaften, Abt. Produktkunde – Qualität tierischer Erzeugnisse (Prof. Dr. Michael Wicke).
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