The effects of immuno- and surgical-castration on the behaviour and consequently growth of group-housed, male finisher pigs

An experiment was conducted to compare behaviour, in particular social and feeding behaviour, and consequently growth performance of group-housed entire and castrated male pigs during the finisher stage of production. Three treatments: (1) entire males, (2) immuno-castrated males, treated with Impro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied animal behaviour science 2003-04, Vol.81 (2), p.111-126
Main Authors: Cronin, G.M, Dunshea, F.R, Butler, K.L, McCauley, I, Barnett, J.L, Hemsworth, P.H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Castration
Feeding
Finisher pigs
Growth
Immuno-castration
Improvac
Mounting behaviour
Time budgets
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Summary:An experiment was conducted to compare behaviour, in particular social and feeding behaviour, and consequently growth performance of group-housed entire and castrated male pigs during the finisher stage of production. Three treatments: (1) entire males, (2) immuno-castrated males, treated with Improvac ® at 14 and 18 weeks of age, and (3) surgically-castrated males, castrated at 14-days old, were compared to assess whether castration affected feeding and social behaviours. Twelve groups of 15 male pigs were formed at 14 weeks of age (47.1±5.50 kg). Pigs had ad libitum access to pelleted, commercial feed from two single space feeders per pen. Pig behaviour and feeder utilisation were compared during 24-h periods at 17 and 21 weeks of age, using time-lapse video recording. At 17 weeks, entire males and immuno-castrated males were more active ( P
ISSN:0168-1591
1872-9045
DOI:10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00256-3