Approximately 100 million male piglets are surgically castrated annually in the EU alone. Most castrations are performed without anesthesia or analgesia in the first days of life. The EU Directive 2008/120/EC set a 2012 deadline for voluntary phase-out or pain-managed castration — a deadline that has not been met in most member states.
Research documents that piglets show clear behavioral and physiological pain responses during and after castration: elevated cortisol, behavioral responses to incision, increased pain-related vocalizations, and reduced suckling activity post-procedure. Neurobiological research confirms that neonatal piglets have fully functional pain pathways.
Intratesticuiar lidocaine injection significantly reduces pain during the procedure. However, it requires skill, adds cost, and does not address post-operative pain. The intrapubic/intratesticular injection technique can be performed by trained stockpeople in some EU countries with appropriate training and veterinary oversight.
Meloxicam injection significantly reduces post-operative pain scores, cortisol response, and behavioral indicators of pain. Research shows that meloxicam given before castration provides better analgesia than given after. Combined local anesthesia + NSAID protocols are the current gold standard for welfare-positive castration.
The Netherlands mandated CO2/isoflurane anesthesia for castration in 2009. Germany mandated isoflurane anesthesia in 2021. France is transitioning to immunocastration and local anesthesia. EU-level regulation requiring pain management for all castrations is under development. Market commitments from retailers are accelerating adoption.
Immunocastration (Improvac vaccination) eliminates surgical castration entirely. The two-injection protocol is welfare-positive, with only the injections as a welfare concern. Major food companies in Europe and Australia increasingly accept immunocastrated pork. Cost-benefit analysis favors immunocastration over surgical castration with pain management in many production contexts.