Evaluation of CO2 anaesthesia applied by a commercial device for the castration of male suckling piglets under field conditions.

The aim of this study was to describe clinical and behavioural parameters of piglets castrated with the use of CO2 anaesthesia by using the commercial available device MS Pigsleeper. 80 male piglets with three to six days of age were allocated to four groups, and were castrated or left uncastrated either after receiving 70% CO2/30% O02, or without anaesthesia. Defensive movements and heart rates were measured during induction and castration phase.