In Germany, piglets are allowed to be surgically castrated without anaesthesia until day 7 of their life. The Dutch, however, find this regulation to not go far enough. They demand anaesthesia-free castration to be completely interdicted all over the EU as from 2009. Possible alternatives are planned to be discussed about by the EU Commission at the end of January 2007. Amongst others, immuno-castration, genetic selection of odour-free boars (sperm sexing or suppression of male Y-chromosome) or the testing of androstenone at the slaughter belt are alternatives to be thought about. According to reports, castration under anaesthesia is no issue planned to be talked about.

Presently, immuno-castration is unlicensed in Germany, but it is allowed to be carried out in Australia and New Zealand. Using this method means treating the boars twice by injecting a so-called hormone analogon. As a result of this vaccination, antibodies are raised in the pig against its own gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) through which the boar odour is normally produced in the male pigs’ meat.

I myself find this vaccination to be a critical method of treatment, because it is dangerous to the user to some extent. So for instance, you will find it written on the package insert for the drug allowed in Australia that it is definitely interdicted for women being of childbearing age to apply this drug. Just in case a man should accidentally give himself the injection, he is no longer allowed to use the drug again. This is because the drug has the same castrating effect in the human body as it has in piglets. Although the drug is said to have become ineffective after three months’ time, we need to be extremely careful in applying it, not losing sight of all these side effects.

Even if a hormone analogon rather than a hormone is used as a vaccine, which is supposed to have no hormonal effects, it needs to be clarified in detail in what way both market and consumers would possibly react in case this method were used in Germany. Altercation, for instance, had been provoked in Germany some years ago, when plans became public to use the BST (somatropin) hormone to increase the cows’ milk production. As a result, using BST had been banned in all EU member countries.

Whether or not selecting odour-free boars or carrying out androstenone tests at the slaughter belt may be real alternatives to vaccination, is still a matter of speculation. A project is planned to be started in the EU in 2007 (to last until 2009) during which alternatives to anaesthesia-free castration are intended to be analysed. It remains to be seen whether or not usable results of the project will be presented at the end of it, on the basis of which decision may be taken properly. You see, this field needs a lot of research still. We’re yet in the early stages.

Castration under anaesthesia is being practised in Switzerland and Norway. But nevertheless, this method cannot be an alternative to us, because – all things considered - it is not suitable enough to alleviate the piglets’ pain. This is the result of a study carried out by experts from the Munich University. Among other things it was examined by veterinarians what would be the influence castration under anaesthesia (compared to anaesthesia-free castration) would have on the amount of cortisol produced in the piglets’ blood as a result of stress the piglets are subject to under treatment.

As far as the scientists found out, the anaesthesia itself is almost as painful for the piglets as is castration. On top of that, more piglets would certainly be crushed to death, because the animals’ post-treatment ability to respond would be constricted through anaesthesia for quite some time.

At the beginning of December, the Dutch signalised in Brussels that, with regard to decisions to be taken about anaesthesia-free castration, they do not intend to go it alone at the national level. With, however, an animal-rights activists’ party being represented in the Dutch parliament, only time will tell whatever approach will be made from that side.

Nothing worse could happen to us than taking the wrong political decisions in a hurry as an emotive reaction to things. Mostly, such kinds of decisions prove false too often after the event! And all too often, you won’t be able to help it!