Behavior of immunocastrated pigs

Santos, Rita de Kássia Silva dos; Caldara, Fabiana Ribeiro; Moi, Marta; Santos, Luan Sousa dos; Nääs, Irenilza de Alencar; Foppa, Luciana; Garcia, Rodrigo Garófallo; Aspilcueta-Borquis, Rusbel Raúl

doi:10.1590/s1806-92902016000900006

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(22 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…If the second vaccination is fully effective, immunocastrates show differences in social behavior, e.g., less aggression and mounting than boars, and are very similar to barrows demonstrated that the effect of immunocastration on behavior can prevail for a long time [61][62][63][64][65]. Even 16 or 22 weeks after the second vaccination, significant behavioral differences in social, manipulating, and aggressive behavior exist between immunocastrates and boars.…”

Section: Consequences Of Immunocastration For Animal Welfare Behaviomentioning

confidence: 93%

Sustainability of Pork Production with Immunocastration in Europe

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Immunocastration, a technique to replace surgical castration of piglets, consists of two consecutive vaccinations to induce antibodies which transiently suppress testicular functions and avoid boar taint. It is a method to ensure both a high product quality and a high level of animal welfare. The impact of immunocastration on the three pillars of sustainability has been studied extensively. While all aspects of sustainability have been studied separately, however, a contemporary global overview of different aspects is missing. In immunocastrates, performance results are better than in barrows, but worse than in boars. The environmental impact of pork production with immunocastrates is lower than with barrows, but higher than with boars. The level of aggression is considerably lower in immunocastrates compared to boars. Societal concerns are mainly related to food safety, and are not supported by scientific evidence. After second vaccination, immunocastrates switch from a boar- to a barrow-like status. Therefore, the timing of second vaccination is a fine-tuning tool to balance advantages of boars with environmental and economic benefits against increased risk of welfare problems and boar taint. Nevertheless, both synergic and conflicting relationships between the pillars of sustainability must be communicated along the value chain to produce tailored pork products.

show abstract

Section: Consequences Of Immunocastration For Animal Welfare Behaviomentioning

confidence: 93%

Sustainability of Pork Production with Immunocastration in Europe

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The behaviour of completely immunocastrated male pigs is similar to that of surgically castrated ones. Immunocastrated males tend to have exacerbated deviant behaviours, including aggressive and sexual behaviours, compared to surgically castrated males and females, and this is reduced after full immunization (Santos et al, 2016;Puls et al, 2017). During the finishing phase, boars showed significantly higher activity than castrated or immunocastrated males and gilts, and displayed more aggression and mounting behaviour Velarde et al (2007).…”

Section: Social Behaviours In Group-housed Boarsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sexual maturity as risk for development of deviant behaviours in pig production systems with entire males

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Male piglets are castrated primarily to avoid the unpleasant boar taint in meat, and additionally for the predisposition of castrates to accumulate fat and for their lower risk of developing unwanted behaviours. There are two main strategies available for withdrawing from surgical castration: one is immunocastration and the other is to raise entire male pigs or boars. Additionally, raising intact boars is more profitable because of the production of carcasses with lean meat and better feed conversion. Boars (compared to castrates) exhibit more aggressive, sexual, damaging social behaviour and reduced feeding behaviour with a lower prevalence of sickness behaviour as a result of good health and low susceptibility to chronic inflammation. In this review, the behaviours specific for boars as a result of sexual maturity are reviewed, with an overview of differences in the behaviour of surgically castrated barrows, immunocastrates and boars reared in group-housed systems. The raising of boars allows for good welfare of these animals in early life, but later, on reaching sexual maturity, the welfare of boars can be diminished because of their propensity to aggression and more mounting behaviour than castrates. Innovations in the breeding and management of boars are needed to improve their performance and to reduce welfare implications of these animals raised in social groups, and in particular to minimize deviant behaviours towards pen mates.

show abstract