Chile Develops Vaccine to End Surgical Castration of Pigs
CHILE - The Livestock Service (SAG) has authorised the veterinary vaccine laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (Favet) to produce immunocastration vaccines, which will be sold to the domestic and international market.
10 April 2015
2 minute read
By: The vaccine being developed by the University of Chile blocks the hormone, GnRH, and regulates reproduction in mammals.
This vaccine will therefore reduce costs, protect the environment and ensure the welfare of pigs, cattle and dogs which currently undergo painful surgical methods.
In the production of pork, castration is a common and necessary procedure to prevent odour and unpleasant taste in meat (boar taint).
Castration is currently done via surgery, which is performed at approximately 10 days of life without anaesthesia.
The University report states that, in Europe, this practice is forbidden and must be done under anaesthesia, which increases the cost. The animal will also still feel pain once the effect of the drug is over.
