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Collaborative project: Field study on vaccination against boar taint. Scientific monitoring of the 100,000 boar project to evaluate immunocastration as an alternative to non-anaesthetic piglet castration (FINGER)

Project


Project code: 28N202303, MRI-FL-08-622-1070 Finger
Contract period: 04.09.2020 - 30.04.2022
Budget: 152,338 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Keywords: animal welfare, pigs, pharmaceutical products, medical accessory, product quality, slaughter, meat, husbandry techniques, animal husbandry, animal health

The phasing out of non-anaesthetic piglet castration must be implemented by the end of 2020. Alternatives include boar fattening and vaccination with Improvac® and surgical castration under general anaesthesia. In Germany, there is limited practical experience with vaccination at all stages of the supply chain. A network of agricultural organisations has launched an initiative to produce 100,000 Improvac-vaccinated boars to attract slaughterhouses and meat processing plants to this alternative. The aim of the joint project is to provide scientific support for this initiative. The focus of the investigations is on two essential aspects: (1) Evaluation of the meat of vaccinated animals as a basis for quality-based payment. Improvac-vaccinated boars have so far been mainly paid according to the "boar mask" or the "castrate mask”. Thus, the fattening of Improvac-vaccinated boars is not economical. However, there are no scientific studies which justify such a system. For this reason, the carcass composition is determined in a dissection trial, and the Autofom estimation results are checked for suspected biases. (2) Variation of important parameters of the supply chain during routine use of Improvac. The variation in slaughter and diagnostic data as well as in meat and fat composition is to be examined on the basis of extensive data material and the most important causes for the variation occurring are to be identified. Furthermore, in addition to odour deviations, the meat and fat quality as well as the product and processing properties will be examined on extensive random samples. In addition, a life cycle assessment is carried out using a simulation model in order to be able to quantify the environmental impact for the Improvac animals.

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