RESEARCH: Penis biting is sporadic in pigs

The phenomenon of penis biting, resulting in genital lesions for male finisher pigs, is observed to occur in farms producing entire males.

Researcher Herman Vermeer, Wageningen UR, the Netherlands told this to Dutch agricultural title Boerderij. He added that Belgian slaughterhouses also found the problem at the slaughterline.

The German website Animal Health Online reported the problem on a farm in Southern Germany, producing entire male pigs.

The problem occurs when penmates start to bit at the extended penis of a mounting boar. Vermeer said: “This is why our research is targeted at reducing the mounting behaviour of boars as much as possible.”

This is also relevant for problems as lameness and other leg related ailments. Vermeer expects more progress through breeding.

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