Entire Male Pigs

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   1. Objectives
   2. Learning goals
   3. Teacher page
2. Entire Male Pigs
3. Castration of male pigs
   1. Statistics
4. Legislation and enforcement
5. Origin of boar taint
   1. Androstenone
   2. Skatole
6. Reasons for castration
   1. Increase the proportion of fat
   2. Increase consumer acceptance
   3. Reduce aggression
   4. Prevent unplanned breeding
7. Surgical castration
   1. Traditional surgical castration
   2. Anaesthesia combined with castration
   3. Gas analgesics
8. Problems related to surgical castration
   1. Animal welfare
   2. Pain and behaviour - the acute response
   3. Reduced growth rate and changed behaviour after surgery
   4. Health consequences
   5. Effect of age
   6. Consumer awareness
   7. Labour cost
9. Alternatives to castration
   1. Slaughter at lower weight
   2. On-line sorting
   3. Management
   4. Breeding and sperm sexing
   5. Perceptual masking of boar taint
   6. Immunocastration
   7. Immunocastration - physiology
   8. Immunocastration - practical implications
10. Completion
    1. Comments
    2. Self-assessment
    3. Key messages
    4. Further reading
    5. Evaluation
11. Acknowledgement

Evaluation

You can help to develop the programme by reviewing and commenting on the following statements. (Comments will be posted to QPC e-mail.)

After each statement, please comment on why you agree or disagree.

Thank you very much for taking the time to help us evaluate this resource, "Entire Male Pigs".

1. It is easy to understand the objectives.

2. It is easy to navigate between the different parts of the learning resource.

3. The learning goals are clear and relevant.

4. The videos and scientific reports are interesting and relevant.

5. The references are informative and relevant.

6. The opportunity to make postings and comments in the learning resource makes it engaging.

7. The self-assessment is relevant and enhances learning.

8. The learning resource gives a better understanding of the origin of boar taint and the problems related to castration.