Surgical castration of male pigs is practiced to prevent boar taint in meat, but causes significant pain. Alternatives including immunocastration offer welfare-positive solutions.
Surgical castration of piglets is one of the most common painful procedures in pig farming. Even in young piglets, the procedure causes acute pain and behavioral distress. The EU's failure to meet its own phaseout deadline reflects industry resistance despite available alternatives. Immunocastration (with two vaccine doses) is effective, produces no welfare concern associated with a vaccine, and produces meat indistinguishable from castrated males. Detection technology for boar taint allows selective slaughter of affected carcasses, making intact male production viable without castration.