Surgical castration of male pigs is performed to prevent boar taint in meat, but causes acute pain and can be prevented through alternative approaches including immunocastration and intact male rearing.
Surgical castration of pigs without anaesthetic is a painful procedure performed on millions of animals annually. The acute pain of incision and removal of the testes causes distress that is measurable through vocalisation, physiological response, and behaviour changes. Post-operative pain persists for days. The alternatives — immunocastration, intact male rearing, and improved detection methods at slaughter — are all feasible and some are already in commercial use. The persistence of unanaesthetised castration reflects cost pressures and regulatory inertia rather than any technical necessity.