Sweden expects end to castration by 2012
Castrating male piglets will no longer be necessary by approximately 2012, the Swedish state agricultural service said in a survey on the developments on this topic.
“Research needs at least five more years to find practically suitable alternatives for the operation,” the state researchers concluded.
Two alternatives
Two of these alternatives offer best the outlook, they say. Either gender-based semen selection or immunocastration. Both methods prevent the creation of boar taint.
Immunocastration will be the method that will be available the most rapidly, according to the state service. “In Switzerland, manufacturers are about to implement this method on a large scale and we will closely follow these developments.”
Semen selection is technically possible, but it is not commercially available in Sweden.
Related website:
• Swedish Ministry of Agriculture
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