title: Pig producer attitude towards surgical castration of piglets without anaesthesia versus alternative strategies.
abstract: A group of 160 Flemish pig farmers (n=160) were surveyed about their attitude towards surgical castration with anaesthesia (SCA) and without (SCN), immunocastration (IC), sperm sexing (SS) and the production of entire males (EM). The farmers' general preference was recorded as SCN>SS>SCA=IC>EM. The farmers' self-reported knowledge of the strategies was associated with their preference for SCA (negatively) and SS (positively). Herd size was correlated with farmers' preference for SCA (negatively) and SS (positively). Farmers perceived surgical castration without anaesthesia as the most favourable strategy in terms of farm profitability, animal performance and effectiveness against boar taint, but they expected the lowest consumer acceptance for this strategy. Surgical castration with anaesthesia was ranked the least favourable in terms of labour conditions. Production of entire males was viewed as the least profitable and the least effective strategy. Sperm sexing was positively perceived, particularly in terms of labour conditions, animal welfare, effectiveness and expected consumer acceptance. The farmers' opinion was quite homogeneous, especially regarding surgical castration without anaesthesia and production of entire males. Increasing our understanding of the farmers' perceptions will hopefully facilitate communication about this intricate issue.
authors.affiliation: Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frank A M
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tuyttens
authors.forename: Filiep
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanhonacker
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verhille
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Brabander
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verbeke
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D003625:Data Collection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012743:Sex Preselection; D013552:Swine