Effect of Immunocastration on Culled Sows—A Preliminary Study on Reproductive Tract, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality

Author:

Botelho-Fontela Sofia1,Paixão Gustavo1,Pereira-Pinto Ricardo2ORCID,Vaz-Velho Manuela2ORCID,Pires Maria dos Anjos1ORCID,Payan-Carreira Rita3ORCID,Patarata Luís1ORCID,Lorenzo José4ORCID,Silva António1ORCID,Esteves Alexandra1

Affiliation:

1. Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), AL4Animals, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal

2. CISAS—Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal

3. CHRC—Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Évora, Pole at Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal

4. Centro Tecnológico de la Carne de Galicia 4, 32900 San Cibrao das Viñas, Spain

Abstract

The Bísaro pig is a Portuguese autochthonous breed greatly appreciated for its meat quality and is mainly reared outdoors. Immunocastration could be a solution to avoid undesirable pregnancies and boar taint in cull sows. The present study tested three immunocastration protocols (with Improvac®) according to their reproductive cycle. The first inoculation was performed two weeks after farrowing (IM1, n = 5), at the beginning of estrus (IM2, n = 5), and one week after the end of estrus (IM3, n = 5), followed by a second administration four weeks apart. A control group (C, n = 5) was also included in the same housing conditions. The sample collection included the reproductive tract for morphometric evaluation, neck fat for the quantification of boar taint compounds, and a portion of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum for meat quality trait assessment. The reproductive tracts from intact sows (C) were significantly heavier compared to the immunocastrated groups (p < 0.05) (1.403 kg C to 0.508 kg IM1, 0.590 kg IM2, and 0.599 kg IM3), suggesting the regression of the reproductive tract to nonstimulated conditions due to immunization against GnRH. The IM1 group exhibited significantly smaller reproductive tract measurements compared to group C for most of the evaluated segments (p < 0.05). No marked differences were observed in the meat quality traits. Therefore, immunocastration can be used in culling sows to avoid ovarian activity, and it is not detrimental to pork quality traits.

Funder

European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

General Veterinary

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