Surgical castration of male piglets is performed on over 100 million pigs per year in Europe to prevent boar taint — an unpleasant odour in pork from intact males. The practice causes significant pain and is the subject of major welfare reform efforts.
Surgical castration without anaesthesia is one of the most painful routine husbandry procedures in pig production. Piglets vocalise, struggle, and show elevated cortisol for hours post-procedure. Pain relief is rarely administered due to cost and time constraints. Immunocastration using the GnRH vaccine Improvac eliminates boar taint without surgery, requires two injections, and is endorsed by veterinary welfare bodies. Entire male production paired with odour detection technology at slaughter is a further alternative. Industry transition to these methods requires economic support, retail commitment to accept entire male pork, and regulatory pressure.