Abstract
Simple SummaryIn the EU, stakeholders of the pork chain committed themselves to voluntarily end surgical castration of boars in Europe. Pork production with entire males (EM) and with immunocastrated boars (IC) are discussed as animal friendly alternatives to surgical castration. However, raising EM may cause new welfare problems due to sexual and aggressive behavior patterns, such as penile injuries. The incidence of this welfare problem with immunocastrated pigs has not been described so far. Thus, it was the aim of this study to compare frequency and severity of penile injuries in EM and IC systematically. Incidence and size of penile injuries (wounds, scars, hematomas) were evaluated in 192 IC and 215 EM from one farm after slaughter. Scars were observed in 71.2% EM and 44.8% IC; whereas wounds were obvious only in 17.2% EM and 8.3% IC. Thus, it is concluded that immunocastration reduces the frequency and severity of penile injuries in IC when compared to EM of same age and weight.Penile injuries in boars have been discussed as a relevant welfare problem in pork production with entire males (EM). The incidence of penile injuries with immunocastrated boars has not been described so far. Thus, it was the aim of this study to systematically compare frequency and severity of penile injuries in EM and IC. Incidence and size of penile injuries (wounds, scars, hematomas) were evaluated in 192 IC and 215 EM from one farm after slaughter (120 kg live weight; four batches (BA) in at least weekly intervals over five weeks). 75.8% EM and 48.4% IC showed injuries at the pars libra of the penis. Scars were observed in 71.2% EM and 44.8% IC. Scars/animal were significantly influenced by treatment (IC vs. EM), B and treatment x B and increased with age in EM (BA1: 2.61 ± 3.05; BA4: 3.59 ± 3.47), but not in IC (BA1: 2.00 ± 3.02; BA4: 1.22 ± 1.91). Wounds were obvious in 17.2% EM and 8.3% IC. Wounds/animal were only influenced significantly by treatment and were lower in IC than in EM. Thus, it is concluded that immunocastration reduces the frequency and severity of penile injuries in IC when compared to EM of same age and weight.
Highlights
In the EU, surgical castration of male piglets without pain relief is nowadays unacceptable.Stakeholders of the pork chain committed themselves to voluntarily end surgical castration of boars in Europe by 1st of January 2018
In entire males (EM) the number of scars continuously increased from BA1 to BA4 up to 2.26-fold more scars (p < 0.001) compared to the reference category BA1
This is the first study that evaluates and quantifies the incidence of penile injuries of GnRH vaccinated boars. It has been described already by others that EM display more sexual mounting and longer mounts than gilts [4]. This frequent mounting behavior explains the high incidence of penile injuries in EM in our study, as the extrusion of the penis during sexually oriented mounting is prerequisite for penis biting by pen mates
Summary
In the EU, surgical castration of male piglets without pain relief is nowadays unacceptable. Stakeholders of the pork chain committed themselves to voluntarily end surgical castration of boars in Europe by 1st of January 2018. Some countries have already prohibited surgical castration of boars without pain relief by law. The amendment of the Protection Animals Act in Germany from 13th of July 2013 bans surgical castration of male piglets without pain release from 1st of January 2019. Besides surgical castration with anesthesia and Animals 2017, 7, 71; doi:10.3390/ani7090071 www.mdpi.com/journal/animals
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
