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