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Immunocastration reduces aggressive and sexual behaviour in male pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2010

L. Rydhmer ,
K. Lundström  and
K. Andersson
L. Rydhmer
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
K. Lundström
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7051, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
K. Andersson*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7024, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
*
†E-mail: Kristina.Andersson@huv.slu.se
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine, Improvac™ (Pfizer Ltd), in suppressing aggressive and sexual behaviour of male pigs. One hundred and thirty-six pigs were assigned to three treatments: entire male pigs (n = 64), immunocastration against GnRH (n = 48) and surgical castration (n = 24). Surgical castration was performed before the age of 1 week. Vaccination comprised two injections: the first injection was given 8 to 11 weeks before slaughter and the second injection 4 weeks before slaughter. After the second injection, immunocastrated pigs showed less non-violent social and aggressive behaviours than entire male pigs of the same age. Mounting was reduced to the same low level as observed in surgically castrated pigs, and more immunocastrated pigs were without skin lesions compared with entire male pigs. Pigs that received the second injection only 1 week before the observation day did not differ significantly in behaviour from those that received the injection 3 weeks before the observation day. Thus, the behaviour seems to change soon after the second injection and these changes remain until slaughter.

Keywords

entire male pigscastrationimmunocastrationbehaviour
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 4 , Issue 6 , June 2010 , pp. 965 - 972
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2010

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