Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat Quality
The study aimed to test a very early immunization of pigs to prevent boar taint with regard to its practicability and influence on production performance, its reliability in ensuring good meat and fat quality, and animal welfare. Immunization was already conducted at piglet production stage and coul...
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doaj-472efede24a748c68aa3fad374f31d012021-01-26T00:01:46ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-01-011129829810.3390/ani11020298Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat QualityDaniela Werner0Lisa Baldinger1Ralf Bussemas2Sinje Büttner3Friedrich Weißmann4Marco Ciulu5Johanna Mörlein6Daniel Mörlein7Institute of Organic Farming, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen Institute, Trenthorst 32, 23847 Westerau, GermanyInstitute of Organic Farming, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen Institute, Trenthorst 32, 23847 Westerau, GermanyInstitute of Organic Farming, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen Institute, Trenthorst 32, 23847 Westerau, GermanyInstitute of Organic Farming, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen Institute, Trenthorst 32, 23847 Westerau, GermanyInstitute of Organic Farming, Johann Heinrich von Thuenen Institute, Trenthorst 32, 23847 Westerau, GermanyDepartment of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyDepartment of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyDepartment of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyThe study aimed to test a very early immunization of pigs to prevent boar taint with regard to its practicability and influence on production performance, its reliability in ensuring good meat and fat quality, and animal welfare. Immunization was already conducted at piglet production stage and could be easily integrated into routine vaccination (week 3) and weaning practices (week 7). The fattening and slaughter performance of the animals was not affected by the immunization regime and was within the usual range. In addition, there were no abnormalities in animal behavior and the prevalence of injuries caused by aggressive interactions. All animals were classified as infertile on the basis of the histological examination of the testicles. However, the testosterone levels measured at slaughter were significantly higher in animals of the early immunization regime than in animals subjected to the standard immunization regime. Androstenone and skatole levels as the main components of boar taint were, on average, higher and varied to a greater extent in early immunized animals. Furthermore, the comparison of the immunization scheme did not result in significant differences for meat quality and for fatty acid composition.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/298meat productionperformanceboar taintanimal welfarefatty acid composition |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Daniela Werner Lisa Baldinger Ralf Bussemas Sinje Büttner Friedrich Weißmann Marco Ciulu Johanna Mörlein Daniel Mörlein |
spellingShingle |
Daniela Werner Lisa Baldinger Ralf Bussemas Sinje Büttner Friedrich Weißmann Marco Ciulu Johanna Mörlein Daniel Mörlein Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat Quality Animals meat production performance boar taint animal welfare fatty acid composition |
author_facet |
Daniela Werner Lisa Baldinger Ralf Bussemas Sinje Büttner Friedrich Weißmann Marco Ciulu Johanna Mörlein Daniel Mörlein |
author_sort |
Daniela Werner |
title |
Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat Quality |
title_short |
Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat Quality |
title_full |
Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat Quality |
title_fullStr |
Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat Quality |
title_full_unstemmed |
Early Immunocastration of Pigs: From Farming to Meat Quality |
title_sort |
early immunocastration of pigs: from farming to meat quality |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Animals |
issn |
2076-2615 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
The study aimed to test a very early immunization of pigs to prevent boar taint with regard to its practicability and influence on production performance, its reliability in ensuring good meat and fat quality, and animal welfare. Immunization was already conducted at piglet production stage and could be easily integrated into routine vaccination (week 3) and weaning practices (week 7). The fattening and slaughter performance of the animals was not affected by the immunization regime and was within the usual range. In addition, there were no abnormalities in animal behavior and the prevalence of injuries caused by aggressive interactions. All animals were classified as infertile on the basis of the histological examination of the testicles. However, the testosterone levels measured at slaughter were significantly higher in animals of the early immunization regime than in animals subjected to the standard immunization regime. Androstenone and skatole levels as the main components of boar taint were, on average, higher and varied to a greater extent in early immunized animals. Furthermore, the comparison of the immunization scheme did not result in significant differences for meat quality and for fatty acid composition. |
topic |
meat production performance boar taint animal welfare fatty acid composition |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/298 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT danielawerner earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality AT lisabaldinger earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality AT ralfbussemas earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality AT sinjebuttner earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality AT friedrichweißmann earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality AT marcociulu earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality AT johannamorlein earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality AT danielmorlein earlyimmunocastrationofpigsfromfarmingtomeatquality |
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