Home
News
761 views
last update:Mar 26, 2008
Castration of piglets on EU agenda
The discussion about castration of piglets with
anaesthetics is not confined to the Netherlands. In Switzerland, Norway and
Belgium the topic is gaining ground again. The Dutch intend on lobbying the EU
to completely ban the practice of castration altogether.
European researchers are working together on the EU- project PIGCAS, which
has as its overall objective to provide information on pig castration that will
support EU policy,
Costs
In 2007, research was carried out into the welfare
aspects of anaesthetic procedures. Researchers calculated that castration with
anaesthetics costs €1 per piglet carried out by a vet and €13m for the
total sector per year.
CO²
Castration using CO² appears to be a better choice. A
visit to Switzerland is planned, where this practice is in a more advanced stage
of development.
Development of prototypes
Last year,
researchers from the Dutch Animal Sciences Group, carried out a study into
castration using a gas anaesthetic containing a mixture 70% CO² and 30% O².
Tests are being carried out since the beginning of this year into instruments
developed abroad.
Spread of costs
In February this
year, the Dutch Agricultural Economics Research Institute (LEI) has begun to
create a cost calculation tool. The results of which will be available as of
June this year.
Related website:
• LEI
For
the latest pig news, subscribe here
Editor PigProgress
To comment, login here
Or register to be able to comment.