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Meta-analysis of the effect of immunocastration on production performance, reproductive organs and boar taint compounds in pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2012

N. Batorek ,
M. Čandek-Potokar ,
M. Bonneau  and
J. Van Milgen
N. Batorek
Affiliation:
Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Hacquetova 17, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
M. Čandek-Potokar*
Affiliation:
Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Hacquetova 17, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311 Hoče, Slovenia
M. Bonneau
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR 1348 PEGASE, 35590 Saint Gilles, France Agrocampus-Ouest, 35000 Rennes, France
J. Van Milgen
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR 1348 PEGASE, 35590 Saint Gilles, France Agrocampus-Ouest, 35000 Rennes, France
*
†E-mail: meta.candek-potokar@kis.si
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Abstract

Meta-analytical approach was used to quantitatively synthesize the effect of immunocastration on growth, carcass, meat quality, reproductive organs and boar taint compounds. Altogether, 41 papers were collected for effect size (θ) calculation and the comparisons were made with entire males (EM) and surgical castrates (SC). The data for reproductive organs and growth performance are numerous enough to draw firm conclusions. In contrast, data for carcass and meat quality are more limited. Results of meta-analysis show efficient immunocastration with the magnitude of the response being by far the largest for reproductive organs (θ = −2.8 to −5.0) and boar taint substances (θ = −2.8 and −0.8 for androstenone and skatole, respectively). However, compared with SC, the immunocastrates exhibit larger bulbourethral glands (θ = 1.3) and slightly higher concentrations of androstenone and skatole (θ = 0.1 and θ = 0.2, respectively). The impact of immunocastration is also remarkable on performance, where the main advantage of the immunocastrates is their boar-like performance until revaccination. In the period following the second vaccination, they eat much more than EM (θ = 2.1), resulting in large effect size for growth rate compared with both EM and SC (θ = 1.1 and θ = 1.4, respectively). Considering the whole fattening period, their feed conversion ratio is higher compared with EM (θ = 0.6) and much lower than that of SC (θ = −1.3), although exhibiting moderately faster growth compared with both (θ = 0.6 and θ = 0.2, respectively). With regard to carcass quality, the immunocastrates take intermediate position between EM and SC. Besides, our analysis suggests no difference in meat quality with SC and some meat quality advantages of immunocastrates over EM because of higher intramuscular fat content (θ = 0.4) and lower shear force (θ = −0.6).

Keywords

meta-analysisimmunocastrationperformanceboar taintpigs
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 6 , Issue 8 , August 2012 , pp. 1330 - 1338
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2012

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