On the Road to End Pig Pain: Knowledge and Attitudes of Brazilian Citizens Regarding Castration.

Maria José Hötzel,Rita Albernaz-Gonçalves,Raphaela E Woodroffe,Maria Cristina Yunes,Bianca Vandresen

doi:10.3390/ani10101826

Maria José Hötzel, Rita Albernaz-Gonçalves + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101826

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Abstract

Simple SummaryWe conducted two surveys to explore the attitudes of Brazilians (n = 1209) towards different piglet castration methods (surgical castration without or with pain control and immunocastration) and the production of entire males. Qualitative analyses indicated that moral objection towards inflicting pain and suffering to pigs was the main reason for the greater support for all the alternatives compared to surgical castration without pain control. Yet, support for all alternatives was somewhat limited by concerns with reduced meat quality, which some participants associated with boar taint or other residues in meat. Moving away from surgical castration without pain control is a necessary step for the pig industry to retain its’ social license.We explored the attitudes of Brazilians towards different methods to deal with boar taint in pork (surgical castration without pain control, SC; surgical castration with pain control, SC+PC; immunocastration, IC; raising entire males, EM). Two surveys (Sv1, n = 441 and Sv2, n = 768) containing closed and open questions were conducted. Nearly 70% of Sv1 and Sv2 participants were unaware that meat of entire males may have boar taint and that SC is widely used in pig production in Brazil. In Sv1, acceptability of SC+PC (63%) and IC (53%) was greater than of SC (15%). In Sv2, acceptability of IC (55%) and EM (52%) was greater than of SC (18%). Open-ended responses indicated that participants objected to inflicting pain to pigs to attain a production goal, and were concerned with organoleptic traits and risks of exogenous residues in pork. Participants’ views regarding the potential increases in the cost of meat due to adoption of alternative methods varied; some argued that avoiding pain justifies an increase in the price of pork and others that this would impact especially lower income citizens. Our findings indicate that participants opposed surgical castration without pain control, and supported alternative methods. However, the concern with potential risks of presence of residues in meat, expressed by a few participants, may need to be addressed among consumers.

Highlights

Castration of piglets is a routine practice in pig farms around the world
Despite some methodological differences between the two surveys used in this study, a common finding was the rejection of surgical castration without pain control by over two thirds of the participants and greater acceptability of alternative methods
The reasons provided by participants in the two surveys to justify these attitudes were ethical concerns related to pain and suffering in animals, while acceptability of the alternative methods was influenced by concerns with potential exogenous residues or boar taint reducing meat quality, as well as the impact of the methods on animal welfare, naturalness, or production aspects

Summary

Introduction

Castration of piglets is a routine practice in pig farms around the world. The most commonly used method is surgical castration of neonatal piglets [3,4,5]. The use of pain control protocols may address the pain and suffering. Any method used must be suitable in the farm context; i.e., it must be easy to perform, not require expensive equipment, and promote significant reduction or elimination of pain, discomfort, and stress for piglets. Studies validating the effectiveness of different pain control protocols have reported mixed results [7,8,9,10,11]

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