Abstract: Respecting the Piglets in Castration with Local Anaesthesia

Type and Average of Pigs on the Farm

180 sows + 30 gilts, 1,300 weaners.

Farming System

Small scale production system.

Description and Evaluation of the Good Practice

In the country, castration without pain relief is forbidden. This farm adopted local anaesthesia as soon as it became available, training staff accordingly. Piglets are gently lifted from heated plates and moved to a treatment station. Each receives an ear tag and tattoo for antibiotic-free certification. Male piglets are given analgesia, iron and coccidiosis injections, followed by local anaesthesia in three sites. After a 12–13 minute wait, castration is performed in a rack with skin contact to calm the piglet. Piglets are returned gently to the sow. Two litters are treated in 30 minutes by two people.

Farm Context

• Pigs
      Genetics: TN70 / Danish Duroc
      Final weight: 30 kg
      Sold age: 12 weeks
• Environmental Enrichment
      Not specifically mentioned.
• Housing and Management Characteristics
      Sow housing: Stall
      Piglet restraint: Heated plate
• Management Practices
      Medicines: Pronestesic vet 40 mg/ml + 0.036 mg/ml, Metacam 5 mg/ml
      Dosage: 3×0.5 ml Pronestesic, 2×0.2 ml Metacam per piglet
      Injection sites: Neck (analgesia), testicles and vas deferens canal (anaesthesia)
      Needle sizes: 0.2×13 mm (anaesthesia), 0.8×16 mm (analgesia)
      Delay before castration: 12–13 minutes
      Time per litter: 10 min injection + 20 min castration
      Total time per batch: 15 min/litter with 2 people

Economic Analysis

Cost per piglet: ~1.5 €
Breakdown: 0.15 € (anaesthesia + needle), 0.1 € (analgesia), 1.25 € (labour)
No special investments required
Compensation: 47 €/animal unit (2025–2026)

Environmental Analysis

No environmental impact reported.

Replicable Benefits and Relevance for Other EU Countries

This practice is easy to implement in countries where piglet castration is still performed. It relieves pain and has no market/export impact in Northern Europe. Costs are low and no major investments are needed. The method is scalable to all farm sizes and supported by video instructions.