Effect of dietary energy level in finishing phase on performance, carcass and meat quality in immunocastrates and barrows in comparison with gilts and entire male pigs.

Immunocastration, a technique consisting of two vaccinations against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), can be used as alternative to surgical castration of piglets. It reduces boar taint and allows higher economic and ecological efficiency compared to barrows. The feeding strategy of immunocastrates, however, can still be improved.

Meta-analysis of the effect of immunocastration on production performance, reproductive organs and boar taint compounds in pigs.

Meta-analytical approach was used to quantitatively synthesize the effect of immunocastration on growth, carcass, meat quality, reproductive organs and boar taint compounds. Altogether, 41 papers were collected for effect size (θ) calculation and the comparisons were made with entire males (EM) and surgical castrates (SC). The data for reproductive organs and growth performance are numerous enough to draw firm conclusions.

Steroid hormones, boar taint compounds, and reproductive organs in pigs according to the delay between immunocastration and slaughter.

The producer of vaccine against GnRH recommends that immunocastrated pigs are to be slaughtered within 4 to 6 weeks after the second vaccination (V2). The objective of the study was to examine the effect of shorter or longer delay on steroid hormones, boar taint compounds, and morphologic and histologic traits of reproductive organs. Forty male pigs (individually housed and fed a commercial diet) were assigned within litter to four treatment groups, 10 pigs were left entire (EM27) and the others were vaccinated against GnRH (Improvac, Pfizer Animal Health) at the age of 12 and 19 weeks.

Effect of feed restriction on hormones, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in immunocastrated pigs.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of feed restriction applied to immunocastrated pigs in the period after the second vaccination (V2) against GnRH on hormonal status, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality. Immunocastrated pigs (IC) were compared with entire males (EM) and surgical castrates fed ad libitum. Pigs (Large White × Landrace) × Pietrain were either left entire or surgically castrated within 1 wk after birth (SC, n = 22).