Document type: Review article published in The Pig Site
Author: EU Reference Centre for Animal Welfare - Pigs (EURCAW-Pigs)
Preview: The practice of surgical castration raises concerns regarding animal welfare. Raising entire males is an alternative to castration. EURCAW-Pigs has reviewed key areas in the assessment of animal welfare in entire males and how to minimize welfare problems in this type of production. (...)
Alternative to castration
Male pigs in commercial production systems are often subjected to castration at an early age to prevent the development of undesirable odours and flavours in the meat. However, the practice of surgical castration raises concerns regarding animal welfare. Raising entire or intact males is an alternative to castration. In addition to offering an alternative to an aversive treatment, entire males offer several advantages in terms of improved feed efficiency, reduced feed intake and enhanced protein deposition, and therefore also could be economically advantageous for the farming industry.
Key aspects in housing and management
In the housing and management of entire males the increased tendency for aggression and sexual behaviour must be addressed. Scientific evidence supports that four key areas in successful housing of entire males can be identified:
- Space allowance and group size (...)
- Feeding strategies (...)
- Enrichment of the environment (...)
- Group composition (...)
Skin lesions, lameness and lack of appropriate enrichment are recommended as useful indicators during welfare inspection. Factsheets are currently developed for these indicators.
