Male pigs used for breeding face specific welfare challenges that are often overlooked compared to the welfare of sows and growing pigs.
Breeding boars in commercial systems are frequently kept in individual stalls with limited social contact, restricted movement, and minimal enrichment. The highly social nature of pigs means isolated boars suffer through absence of conspecific interaction. Boars used for semen collection experience repetitive handling procedures. Surgical castration of male piglets without anaesthesia causes acute pain lasting several days. Immunocastration, using a vaccine that temporarily suppresses testosterone, achieves equivalent outcomes without surgical pain and is increasingly adopted in markets that prioritise welfare. The welfare case for improving boar management standards is clear.