Surgical castration without anesthesia is performed on male piglets to prevent boar taint; immunocastration and genetic selection offer welfare-superior alternatives.
Piglet castration without anesthesia is one of the most prevalent and preventable welfare harms in pig farming globally. The acute pain response is well-documented and severe. Immunocastration achieves the same commercial objective - taint-free pork from entire males - using a two-injection protocol that is demonstrably welfare-superior. The transition to immunocastration has been led by producer countries in Europe facing legislative deadlines, but the practice of unanaesthetized surgical castration persists in many markets. Genetic selection for low-taint entire males represents the ultimate solution that eliminates castration entirely.