Boar taint and the castration debate
As routine castration causes unnecessary distress and pain for piglets, alternative strategies to reduce boar taint are being deployed, but what are the pros and cons of these strategies?
11 July 2019
9 minute read
By: 
| References | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALCASDE report | ||||
| (2009) | Study on the improved methods for animal friendly production, in particular on alternatives to the castration of pigs and on alternatives to the dehorning cattle.. SANCO | 18:1-65 | ||
| Andresen Ø. | ||||
| (2006) | Boar taint related compounds: Androstenone/skatole/other substances.. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica | 48(1):5 | ||
| European Commission | ||||
| (2019) | Establishing best practices on the production, the processing and the marketing of meat from uncastrated pigs or pigs vaccinated against boar taint (immunocastrated). | |||
| Eurogroup for Animals | ||||
| (2018) | ||||
| European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) | ||||
| (2004) | Welfare aspects of the castration of piglets. Scientific Report of the Scientific Panel for Animal Health and Welfare on a Request from the Commission Related to Welfare Aspects of the Castration of Piglets (Question N8 EFSA-Q-2003-091). The EFSA Journal | 91:1-18 | ||
| Jensen B.B. | ||||
| (2006) | Prevention of boar taint in pig production. Factors affecting the level of skatole.. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica | 48(1):6 | ||
| Lundström K. and Zamaratskaia G. | ||||
| (2006) | Moving towards taint-free pork – alternatives to surgical castration.. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica | 48(1):6 | ||
| Wageningen University | ||||
| (2013) | Results of the 5-year Dutch research programme 'Boars heading for 2018' | |||
| Zamaratskaia G. and Squires E.J. | ||||
| (2009) | Biochemical, nutritional and genetic effects on boar taint in entire male pigs.. Animal | 3:1508-1521 |
Matthew Wedzerai
Freelance contributor
Matthew Wedzerai holds an MSc in animal science (animal nutrition) from Wageningen University, the Netherlands. He also holds a diploma in pig husbandry & animal feed, PTC+ College, the Netherlands.
