Since January 2010, Swiss animal welfare legislation requires that castration of piglets is performed under anesthesia. Currently, this requirement is fulfilled mainly by inhalational anesthesia with isoflurane, or injection with ketamine, azaperon and butorphanol. While the scientific basis of these methods for anesthesia has been well described, there is little experience on the practical implementation of castration with anesthesia under field conditions. A survey with producers and veterinarians who had at least 4 months experience with castration under anesthesia showed that there is room for improvement in the practical implementation of these methods. Major problems identified by producers for inhalational anesthesia were the high work load and cost, death of piglets after castration, and health problems of the farmers (dizziness and headache after performing the castration). Problems associated with injection of anesthetics were increased bleeding, death of piglets after castration, insufficient anesthesia and poor healing of the castration wound.
The objectives of the current project are a description of the practical implementation of castration under anesthesia, and a comparison of the self-assessment of farmers with an objective assessment of animal welfare and workplace safety during and after castration. A representative sample of swine farmers practicing inhalation anesthesia is asked to complete a questionnaire on their experience with castration under anesthesia. A slightly modified questionnaire is sent to farmers practicing anesthesia by injection. A sample of 100 farms using inhalation and 30 farms using injection is visited during castration of piglets, and the quality of anesthesia is evaluated. On the one hand, welfare parameters which can be assessed directly on the animals are described, on the other hand indirect parameters such as the condition of the anesthesia machine, the amount of isoflurane used per piglet, and the quality of the workplace are evaluated. Workplace safety during isoflurane use is evaluated in collaboration with the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund, SUVA. Results of the self-assessment by farmers are compared to the parameters recorded during the farm visit. This will provide a basis for effectively consulting farmers to improve animal welfare and workplace safety during castration of piglets. In addition, parameters which are closely related to a correct implementation of castration and which can be evaluated during a farm visit without observing castration shall be identified. The project will thus contribute towards an effective control of the new animal welfare legislation.
