Piglet castration alternatives

This page contains automatically translated content.

Final report

http://orgprints.org/18652/

Duration of project

December 2008 to March 2011

Contact person at the University of Kassel

Astrid Heid, M.Sc.

Project partner

Prof. Dr. Ute Knierim
Dept. of Farm Animal  Behaviour and Husbandry
Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences
Nordbahnhofstrass 1a
37213 Witzenhausen 

Head of project

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hamm

Alternatives to castration of piglets without anaesthesia – Analysis of the impacts of alternative methods on the acceptance by consumers and producers

Research project within the framework of the Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)

The main objective of this research project is the analysis of consumers’, retailers’ and producers’ attitudes towards castration of piglets without anaesthesia as well as possible alternatives and their impact on meat quality and consumers’ buying behaviour. With regard to all stakeholders, recommendations for the implementation of alternatives to castration of piglets without anaesthesia will be given.

Nine focus groups will be conducted by the Department of Agricultural and Food Marketing in order to investigate consumers’ knowledge about and attitudes towards castration of piglets and their reaction to different information about surgical castration of piglets and possible alternatives. Subsequent to each focus group, a Vickrey auction is used to determine consumers’ willingness to pay for the different alternatives. Simultaneously, a survey is issued to scientists and representatives of retail and production companies in six European countries by the Department of Farm Animal Behaviour and Husbandry to explore the status quo and perspectives of producing, processing and marketing of organic pork produced using an alternative to castration without anaesthesia. In two workshops, the summarised results of both surveys are discussed with producers and extensions workers as well as representatives from retail and processing companies.

Conference documentation on the practical workshop

"Alternatives to anesthetic-free piglet castration in organic pig farming" (11.03.2010, Bonn).

What alternatives are there to anesthetic-free piglet castration in organic pig farming in Germany? We discussed this question with the participants on the basis of current research results and experience reports from other European countries.

Presentations:

  • "Introductory presentation of the different alternatives to anesthetic-free piglet castration" by Christine Brenninkmeyer, University of Kassel.
  • "Breeding options for the reduction of boar taint" by Luc Frieden, Bonn University
  • "Preliminary results of a survey of experts in other European countries" by Christine Brenninkmeyer, University of Kassel
  • "Preliminary results of a survey of organic meat consumers" by Astrid Heid, University of Kassel
  • "Castration with local anesthesia and boar fattening" by Bente Fredriksen, Norway
  • "Experiences from Switzerland" by Hans-Georg Kessler, Switzerland
  • "'Matter of taste' boar meat: consumers, marketers, slaughterhouses, farmers and breeders on (not using) castration" by Henk Gerbers, the Netherlands

Organic Eprints