Alternativ till obedövad kastrering av smågrisar
- Ur ett ekonomiskt och djurhälsomässigt perspektiv
CatrationPigletsBoar taintPainAlternativesAnesthesiaAnalgesiaKastreringSmågrisGaltluktSmärtaAlternativSmärtlindringBedövning
This degree project aims to evaluate alternative methods to the unanaesthetized castration of piglets. Castration of piglets is performed to prevent the development of boar taint. Boar taint can cause great financial losses for the pig manufacturer. Unanaesthetized castration of piglets is not regarded to be satisfactory from an animal welfare perspective and the procedure will for that reason be outlawed in the near future.Several alternative methods are used in countries all over the world with promising result. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if this methods could be applied in Swedish pig production.A literature study has been combined with interviews; field studies, questionnaires and a small study on male pig production.To be applicable to and applied in Swedish pig production the alternative method must be financially accepted by the manufacturers but also accepted from an animal welfare perspective.Castration is the only way to guarantee a meat free of boar taint. Therefore the conclusion of this study is that the best result is achieved by a combination of anesthesia in combination with analgesia. This is the most inexpensive alternative which also causes the piglet the least amount of distress.