Boar taint in intact male pigs has driven surgical castration. Alternative solutions protect both pig welfare and consumer acceptability.
Surgical castration of piglets without anaesthesia causes acute pain and distress - the welfare cost of ensuring boar taint-free pork. Immunocastration eliminates both taint and the welfare cost of surgery. For producers and consumers willing to adopt this approach, it represents one of the clearest examples of a welfare improvement that removes a painful procedure without compromising product quality.