Comparison of fattening performances of boars castrated or immuniozed againt GnRF and evaluation of the vaccination efficiency


  • Wavreille, J. , Boudry, C. , Romnée, J.M. , Froidmont, E. & Bartiaux-Thill, N. (2011). Comparison of fattening performances of boars castrated or immuniozed againt GnRF and evaluation of the vaccination efficiency. Poster in: 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science, Stavanger, Norway, 29 août - 2 septembre 2011.
Type Poster
Year 2011
Title Comparison of fattening performances of boars castrated or immuniozed againt GnRF and evaluation of the vaccination efficiency
Event name 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science
Event location Stavanger, Norway
Event date 29 août - 2 septembre 2011
Abstract The vaccination against boar taint with detection of unvaccinated pigs was studied at CRA-W in an animal husbandry-based approach. This research was concluted on 160 males, issued from a Piétrain x Belgian Landrace cross, fed ad libitum between 25 and 122 kg body weight and group-housed under the same conditions during the fattening period (6pigs/pen). One group (82 pigs) was castrated (chirurgical castration)before 7 days of age, whreas the other group (78 pigs) was vaccinated against boar taint (ImprovacR, Pfizer Animal Health). The growth performance and the behavior oh the pigs were observed during the fattening period. At slaughter, the testis size and the boar taint were evaluater. No effect was observed on growth performance between groups but feed conversion was slightly improved in the vaccinated pigs (P<0.06) resulting in a feed saving of about 15 kg per pig over the fattening period. The second vaccination performed at 4-6 weeks before slaughter, was a turning point for growth performance: vaccinated pigs grew faster than castrated ones. After the second vaccination, pigs spent more time lying (74% vs 67% of time) and when they were standing, they spent more time at the feeder (12% vs 8.5% of time). In our trial, the vaccination was totally effective in preventing boar taint. Reduction in testis size was clearly visible from the second week after the recall vaccination. Average testis weight at slaughter was 33g, whereas other observations showed an average weight over 800g in uncastrated males. Moreover, upon 78 vaccinated males, only one had testis weight exceeding the 600 g threshold. Sensory assessment of fat (by human nose) did not reveal any boar taint. Further work will be undertaken to udpate results and extend comparison of production performance, animal behavior and boar taint.
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Authors Wavreille, J., Boudry, C., Romnée, J.M., Froidmont, E., Bartiaux-Thill, N.

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