Piglet Castration

 As discussed in the EuroFAWC- meeting in January 2009 in Vienna.

• Castration of pigs is a mutilation and should not be carried out without strong justification

• Where castration is necessary, it should be carried out with minimal pain, suffering and distress

• Pain relief should be given, and thus efforts should be made to ensure that practical means of delivering pain relief is available as soon as possible

• Castration could be avoided if
  1. Boar taint could be detected at the abattoir
  2. Semen could be sexed without detrimental effects to the offspring

• The preferred methods of castration in terms of animal welfare are:
  1. Immunocastration, provided the welfare of entire males can be ensured
  2. Castration with anaesthesia and post-operative analgesia and care