Influence of sex and immunocastration on feed intake behavior, skatole and indole concentrations in adipose tissue of pigs

Weiler, Ulrike; Götz, Markus; Schmidt, Alexander R.; Otto, Mariana; Müller, Simone

doi:10.1017/s175173111200167x

Cited by 44 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This is a result of lower feed intake without clear differences in ADG. After the second vaccination, however, ADFI and DG of IM strongly increases (Schmidt et al, 2011;Batorek et al, 2012b;Weiler et al, 2013). We showed that this increase is very abrupt and noticeable within 1 week after the second injection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Field experience with surgical castration with anaesthesia, analgesia, immunocastration and production of entire male pigs: performance, carcass traits and boar taint prevalence

Aluwé¹,

Tuyttens²,

Millet³

2015

Animal

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Male piglets are castrated to reduce boar taint and also to reduce aggressive and sexual behaviour. However, the procedure as traditionally performed is painful and negatively affects performance. Large-scale results about the consequences of implementing alternatives on farms are lacking. We, therefore, investigated the practical applicability of the following five alternatives that can be implemented in the short term: surgical castration (1) without pain relief (CONT, control group), (2) with analgesia (MET, Metacam, 0.2 ml, 10 to 15 min before castration), (3) with general anaesthesia (CO 2 , inhalation, 100% CO 2 , 25 s, 3 l/min), (4) vaccination against boar taint (IM, two injections with Improvac) and (5) production of entire males (EM). The study consisted of the following two trials: (1) an experimental farm trial with 18 animals/treatment and (2) a large field trial on 20 farms with 120 male pigs/farm per treatment and all treatments performed on each farm. Performance results as well as data on carcass traits, boar taint (hot-iron method) and testes development and weight were collected in both trials. Neither castration nor administration of analgesia or anaesthesia had an effect on daily gain of the piglets in the farrowing crates ( P > 0.05). Farmer records indicated that mortality in the farrowing crates (1.1%), nursery pens (1.8%) and fattening stable (2.2%) was not influenced by MET or CO 2 compared with EM, IM or CONT ( P > 0.05). No significant differences were found for daily gain ( P > 0.05) nor slaughter age ( P > 0.05). Immunocastrates and EM had a better gain-to-feed ratio ( P < 0.05) compared with the groups of barrows (CONT, MET and CO 2 ). Lean meat percentage was higher for EM compared with the barrows, and intermediate for IM ( P < 0.05). Carcass yield was lowest for IM ( P < 0.05). The hot-iron method indicated that boar taint was eliminated in barrows and IM compared with EM ( P < 0.001). Average prevalence of strong boar taint was 3% for EM, but varied from 0% to 14% between farms. As the effect of treatment on performance as well as the level of boar taint of EM was farm dependent, farmers should be encouraged to pre-test the different alternatives in order to make a well-considered choice for the best practical and profitable alternative for their farm.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Field experience with surgical castration with anaesthesia, analgesia, immunocastration and production of entire male pigs: performance, carcass traits and boar taint prevalence

Aluwé¹,

Tuyttens²,

Millet³

2015

Animal

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“…Weiler et al (2013) observed that the strong increase in feed intake of IM after V2 mainly resulted from an increased feeding rate. In accordance with that study, we did not observe differences between treatment groups in the percentage of pigs spending time at feeding.…”

Section: Performancementioning

confidence: 93%

“…In accordance with that study, we did not observe differences between treatment groups in the percentage of pigs spending time at feeding. DFI of entire male pigs is suppressed by the presence of oestrogens and androgens (Weiler et al, 2013). Immunocastration reduces steroidogenic capacity and lowers the levels of these compounds, which can partly explain the increased feed intake.…”

Section: Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Immunocastrated male pigs: effect of 4 v. 6 weeks time post second injection on performance, carcass quality and meat quality

Aluwé

Degezelle

Depuydt

et al. 2016

animal

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Immunocastration or vaccination against boar taint can be used as alternative for surgical castration of male piglets. The vaccine is administrated twice. After the second vaccination (V2), the pigs behave like barrows instead of boars and their feed intake increases which may result in a lower lean meat percentage. The timing of V2 is therefore crucial to find the right balance between the advantages of entire males and barrows. In this study, we evaluated the effect of time post second injection within the advised time frame (4 v. 6 weeks before slaughter) on behaviour, performance, carcass and meat quality of immunocastrated male pigs. In total, 180 animals (hybrid sow × Piétrain): 60 gilts, 60 male pigs vaccinated 6 weeks before slaughter (IM-6) and 60 male pigs vaccinated 4 weeks before slaughter (IM-4), all slaughtered at comparable slaughter weights. After 20 weeks of age, IM-6 showed more inactive behaviour at the expense of playing and aggressive behaviour. Daily feed intake (DFI), daily gain (DG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not differ significantly between IM-6 and IM-4. Gilts had a lower DFI and DG in the late finishing phase and a higher FCR overall compared with both IM groups. Gilts showed a higher lean meat content compared with both IM groups. Earlier vaccination increased dressing percentage, which could partly be explained by the lower weight of the gastrointestinal tract, but not by testes weight. Meat quality traits and palatability did not differ significantly between IM-6 and IM-4. Vaccination of immunocastrates at 6 compared with 4 weeks before slaughter improved the calmness in the stable and the dressing percentage, while maintaining performance and carcass characteristics.

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“…The turnover of intestinal cells could be influenced by the daily feed intake of the pigs. Weiler et al (2013) showed a significant positive correlation between the feed intake rate and the skatole concentration of barrows and immunocastrates, which both have high daily feed intakes. They speculate that this effect could be explained by changes in the intestinal microbial composition of pigs with a high daily feed intake or a difference in cell turnover leading to higher amounts of cell debris.…”

Section: Boar Taintmentioning

confidence: 96%

The effect of the MC4R gene on boar taint compounds, sexual maturity and behaviour in growing-finishing boars and gilts

Broeke¹,

Aluwé²,

Janssens

et al. 2015

Animal

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Societal pressure to ban surgical castration of male piglets is rising due to animal welfare concerns, thus other methods to prevent boar taint need to be explored. Genetic selection against boar taint appears to be a long-term sustainable alternative. However, as boar taint is linked to reproductive hormones, it is important to consider possible negative side effects such as delayed sexual maturity or changes in behaviour. We reported earlier that the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) marker can be used to reduce boar taint levels in fat of boars. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether MC4R marker-assisted selection for lower boar taint prevalence affects plasma levels of boar taint compounds and testosterone; sexual maturity; behaviour; skin lesions; and lameness in boars and gilts. Using an intervention study with a 2 × 2 design, 264 boars and gilts differing on position 893 of the MC4R gene (AA v. GG) were compared. The MC4R polymorphism did not affect the plasma concentration of either androstenone or testosterone at different time points, whereas the concentration of skatole was significantly lower ( P = 0.003) and the concentration of indole tended to be lower ( P = 0.074) in GG compared with AA boars. A higher percentage of gilts of the GG genotype were in puberty at slaughter age compared with AA gilts ( P < 0.001). The age of the boars at sexual maturity (as indicated by the first positive preputial smear test) did not differ between AA and GG boars. In contrast, weight of GG boars at sexual maturity tended to be lower ( P = 0.065). During the period from 6 weeks of age to slaughter, boars and gilts of the GG genotype showed more playing behaviour ( P = 0.015) and less passive and feeding behaviour ( P = 0.003). They showed more skin lesions on their back and caudal area ( P = 0.022), and tended to show more skin lesions on their head and anterior area ( P = 0.093) compared with AA animals. In conclusion, the polymorphism in the MC4R gene can be used as a marker without negative effects on reproduction characteristics in boars and gilts. Genetic selection towards a lower prevalence of boar taint will lead to more active pigs with more skin lesions. Management strategies may therefore be necessary to reduce skin lesions in the selected animals.

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Influence of sex and immunocastration on feed intake behavior, skatole and indole concentrations in adipose tissue of pigs

Cited by 44 publications

References 39 publications

Field experience with surgical castration with anaesthesia, analgesia, immunocastration and production of entire male pigs: performance, carcass traits and boar taint prevalence

Field experience with surgical castration with anaesthesia, analgesia, immunocastration and production of entire male pigs: performance, carcass traits and boar taint prevalence

Immunocastrated male pigs: effect of 4 v. 6 weeks time post second injection on performance, carcass quality and meat quality

The effect of the MC4R gene on boar taint compounds, sexual maturity and behaviour in growing-finishing boars and gilts

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