Aims

Overall objective

To critically evaluate and optimize pork production with immunocastration (IC) as an environmental, economic and socially sustainable alternative to production systems with surgical castrates (SC) and entire males (EM)

Specific aims

• Developent of innovative feeding concepts
• Transfer the knowledge gained into Best Practice Guides in accordance with the three pillars of sustainability
• Determining the impact of IC on production efficiency, improving economic margins and minimizing the environmental footprint
• Optimizing the timepoint of vaccination
• Researching market acceptance of IC products, the potential for changing consumer attitudes, and the impact of regional differences
• Product quality: strategies to improve quality in different production system
• Determining the impact of IC on animal behavior and health under different housing conditions (animal welfare)
• Testing the reliability of IC under different conditions