{ "type": "mediaitem", "identifier": "mediaitem_1989", "subtype": "wmammodularcontent_gkn_dossier", "title": "Keeping entire male pigs", "navtitle": "", "url": "/en/eurcaw-pigs/dossier/keeping-entire-male-pigs-dossier", "language": "en_US", "metadata" : { "id": 18574, "identifier": "mediaitem_1989", "contenttype": "wmammodularcontent_gkn_dossier", "contenttype_title": "contenttype_wmammodularcontent_gkn_dossier", "url": "/en/eurcaw-pigs/dossier/keeping-entire-male-pigs-dossier", "title": "Keeping entire male pigs", "lead": "The practice of surgical castration raises concerns regarding animal welfare. Raising entire or intact male pigs is an alternative to castration. In addition to offering an alternative to an aversive treatment, entire males offer several advantages in terms of improved feed efficiency, reduced feed intake and enhanced protein deposition. On the other hand, behavioural characteristics of entire males can lead to injuries and reduced welfare. Enhancing the welfare of entire males requires attention to key aspects in housing and management.", "leadimage": { "source": "https://api.groenkennisnet.nl/upload_mm/b/7/6/3741_fullimage_entire%20males%20in%20pens%20with%20restricted%20liquid%20feeding%20%28_wur%29.png", "width": 466, "height": 349, "focuspoint-x": -1, "focuspoint-y": -1, "alternative_text": "Entire males in pens with restricted liquid feeding (©WUR)", "photographer": "©WUR", "photographer_hyperlink": "", "photo_license": "", "photo_license_hyperlink": "", "source_info": "", "source_info_hyperlink": "", "keywords": [ "pigs", "pig", "feeding" ] }, "publication_date": "2023-11-02T11:04+02:00", "lastmodified_date": "2025-09-15T12:07+02:00", "expiration_date": "", "tags": [ "Dossier", "gkn_eurcaw", "English" ], "copyright": "", "external_id": "", "item_metadata": { "contentsubtype": "Dossier", "theme": ["gkn_eurcaw"], "keywords": [], "video_header": "", "contactperson": { "title": "EURCAW-Pigs", "url": "/en/groenkennisnet/person/editors-eurcaw-pigs" }, "experts": [], "link_extra_image": "", "last_update": "" } }, "contents": [ { "area": "aboutthisdossier", "title": "About this dossier", "contentarea_template": { "id": "contenttemplate_dossier", "name": "contenttemplate_dossier"},"background": false,"contentarea_leadtext": "This dossier aims to help Competent Authorities and other stakeholders with issues related to assessment of animal welfare in entire male pigs and how to minimize welfare problems in this type of production. The dossier is updated periodically by the EURCAW-Pigs team. The text is not legally binding.\r\n","image": { "source": "https://api.groenkennisnet.nl/upload_mm/7/b/b/3803_fullimage_undocked%20entire%20males%20in%20an%20enriched%20pen%20%28_wur%29.jpg", "width": 1000, "height": 750, "focuspoint-x": -1, "focuspoint-y": -1, "alternative_text": "Undocked entire males in an enriched pen (©WUR)", "photographer": "©WUR", "photographer_hyperlink": "", "photo_license": "", "photo_license_hyperlink": "", "source_info": "", "source_info_hyperlink": "", "keywords": [ "pig", "pigs", "pen" ] }, "elements": [ { "type": "text", "html": "

It is based on EURCAW-Pigs’ “Review on keeping entire male pigs”. In the housing and management of entire males the increased tendency for aggression and sexual behaviour must be addressed. Scientific evidence supports that four key areas in successful housing of entire males can be identified: (1) Space allowance and group size, (2) Feeding strategies, (3) Enrichment of the environment, and (4) Group composition. Skin lesions, lameness and lack of appropriate enrichment are recommended as useful indicators during welfare inspection.<\/em><\/p>

This EURCAW-Pigs dossier addresses the following items: 'Legislation', and ‘Knowledge’.<\/em><\/p>

Further items are expected in November/December 2023: ‘Tools for welfare inspection’, 'Training courses' and 'Inspiring examples'.<\/em><\/p>

Source picture: ©WUR<\/em><\/p>" } , { "identifier": "element_536872", "type": "modularcontent", "gkzindexmanual": { "title": "", "gkz_content_id": ["1229920"] } } ] }, { "area": "legislation", "title": "Legislation", "contentarea_template": { "id": "contenttemplate_dossier", "name": "contenttemplate_dossier"},"background": true,"contentarea_leadtext": "Council Directive 2008\/120\/EC of 18 December 2008 regulates legal requirements laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs. There are no specific regulations on housing and managing of entire males. ","image": {"error": "no image selected"}, "elements": [ { "identifier": "element_536874", "type": "modularcontent", "gkzindexmanual": { "title": "", "gkz_content_id": ["392255"] } } ] }, { "area": "knowledge", "title": "Knowledge", "contentarea_template": { "id": "contenttemplate_dossier", "name": "contenttemplate_dossier"},"background": false,"contentarea_leadtext": "Behavioural characteristics of entire males are influenced by sexual hormones and include an increased tendency for activity, aggression and sexual behaviours such as mounting. It is important to focus on how to minimize negative welfare consequences of these behaviours during raising. The most important factors seem to ensure stable social relationships, enrichment of pen environments to satisfy the increased activity levels, and to create possibilities for avoiding agonistic attacks (see \u2018Show more\u2019). ","image": { "source": "https://api.groenkennisnet.nl/upload_mm/d/a/8/3977_fullimage_mounting%20behaviour%20%28_lsz%20boxberg%29.jpg", "width": 1000, "height": 750, "focuspoint-x": -1, "focuspoint-y": -1, "alternative_text": "Mounting behaviour (©LSZ Boxberg)", "photographer": "©LSZ Boxberg", "photographer_hyperlink": "", "photo_license": "", "photo_license_hyperlink": "", "source_info": "", "source_info_hyperlink": "", "keywords": [ "pig", "pigs", "mounting" ] }, "elements": [ { "type": "text", "html": "

Guidance<\/strong><\/p>

EURCAW-Pigs’ “Review on keeping entire male pigs<\/a>” addresses the increased tendency for aggression and sexual behaviour in entire males and identifies four key areas in successful housing of entire males:<\/p>

Space allowance and group size<\/strong><\/p>

An increased space allowance for entire males does not reduce the level of aggression or sexual behaviour per se. However, space allowance becomes particularly important when it allows animals to avoid agonistic encounters and mounting and thereby reduces the risk for injuries. <\/p>

Feeding strategies<\/strong><\/p>

Studies indicate that feeding by a long trough, ad libitum feeding, feeding wet by-products, diets with a high level of amino acids, a good hygiene of the feeding and drinking place and sufficient water supply of the drinking system are associated with less sexual and aggressive behaviour and less skin lesions.<\/p>

Enrichment of environment<\/strong><\/p>

Environmental enrichment, encompassing factors such as increased space allowance, access to straw bedding, provision of roughage, or outdoor areas, may not necessarily reduce agonistic interactions. However, enrichment occupies and distracts the animals from negative encounters. Moreover, bedding decreases the slipperiness of floors. Consequently, the risk for negative welfare effects such as skin lesions and lameness is lower. <\/p>

Group composition<\/strong><\/p>

A stable group composition is important when keeping entire males. However, rearing of litters without any mixing is difficult to implement in current housing systems. Mixing entire males with females is beneficial for the males, although from the point of view of the females, single-sex housing would be preferred.<\/em><\/p>

Source photo: ©LSZ Boxberg<\/em><\/p>" } , { "identifier": "element_536877", "type": "modularcontent", "gkzindexmanual": { "title": "", "gkz_content_id": [ "1229767", "1229766", "1229764", "1229890" ] } } ] }, { "area": "trainingcourses", "title": "Training courses", "contentarea_template": { "id": "contenttemplate_dossier", "name": "contenttemplate_dossier"},"background": true,"contentarea_leadtext": "In collaboration with national training bodies and national reference centers on animal welfare, EURCAW-Pigs develops training guides for the different welfare topics as standards for national training in EU Member States.","image": { "source": "https://api.groenkennisnet.nl/upload_mm/9/8/3/4894_fullimage_mounting%20behaviour2%20%28lsz%20boxberg%29%20%28002%29.jpg", "width": 1000, "height": 750, "focuspoint-x": -1, "focuspoint-y": -1, "alternative_text": "Mounting behaviour, LSZ Boxberg via EURCAW-pigs", "photographer": "LSZ Boxberg", "photographer_hyperlink": "", "photo_license": "", "photo_license_hyperlink": "", "source_info": "", "source_info_hyperlink": "", "keywords": [] }, "elements": [ { "type": "text", "html": "

Learning goals <\/strong><\/p>

On the subject of keeping entire male pigs:<\/p>