Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The castration of piglets is performed routinely all around the world. Most castrations are done without anaesthesia and analgesia, despite the fact that this procedure has been proved to induce acute pain and stress for the piglets. The procedure regarding castration of piglets is currently a hot topic of debate and an important political issue. The underlying issue is the boar taint which are highlighted in the heating of the meat after slaughter, which in turn can lead to reduced meat sales as it can be perceived as unpleasant for many consumers. The purpose of this study is to examine alternative drugs which may be selected in order to replace the practice of castration of piglets without anaesthesia, in light of improved animal welfare. The pharmacological options I have reviewed are: Non-Steroidal-Anti-Inflammatory-Drug (NSAID) for pain relief, general anaesthesia in the form of carbon, halothane, isoflourane and N2O, local anaesthesia and immunocastration. NSAIDs has been proven to be an effective adjunct to different methods of stunning and has a positive effect post-operative affect, since it speeds up the healing process. Some countries apply to general anesthesia today for stunning piglet. In the Netherlands, for example, they use carbon dioxide. This is a less expensive option than halothane and isoflorane, however, studies have shown that the induction of carbon dioxide may be complicated. Local anaesthesia has been practiced in Norway since 2002 and has been proven to be successful. Immunocastration is when pigs get vaccinated with a synthetic analogue of GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) so that antibodies against the animal's own GnRH is produced. This leads to lower concentrations of luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which results in a delayed sexual maturation. Some consumers are skeptical about this approach, as they proved to be concerned about the remnants of the vaccine in the meat. By comparison, these studies have shown that immunocastration, from animal welfare point of view, is the best approach for the castration of piglets. It results in the same outcome and quality as neuters, moreover, it provides better animal welfare by reducing stress and pain in piglets.