Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Immunocastration Welfare Benefits

Immunocastration using Improvac provides an alternative to surgical castration that eliminates boar taint while improving the welfare of male pigs.

Key Facts

Improvac vaccine triggers immune response against GnRH suppressing testicular function
Pigs receive two injections with the second given 4-6 weeks before slaughter
Immunocastrated pigs grow better than surgically castrated pigs with less body fat
The procedure eliminates surgical pain while achieving equivalent boar taint control
Improvac is registered in over 60 countries but adoption varies by region

Welfare Considerations

Immunocastration eliminates the acute pain and post-operative complications of surgical castration while achieving equivalent boar taint reduction. This represents a clear welfare improvement over conventional surgical castration without anaesthesia, making its wider adoption an important welfare goal.

What You Can Do

Support immunocastration as a welfare-superior alternative to surgical castration
Advocate for immunocastration adoption in national and EU welfare standards
Choose pork from producers using immunocastration rather than surgical castration