German meat processor expands pig slaughterings

German meat producer Tönnies has announced plans to increase the slaughtering and processing of entire male pigs.

Currently, the German producer slaughters and processes approximately 700 boars from both Dutch and German producers.

Two years ago, the meat giant started trial boar slaughtering and processing, in response to ongoing public discussions about piglet castration and the subsequent mandatory use of anaesthetics prior to castration in the Netherlands.

In Germany, certification organisation QS has created an agreement which allows for painkillers after castrating.

In addition, the industry is working on the development of an electronic 'nose' for use in a slaughter line to detect boar taint in meat or carcasses. This would eventually completely take away the necessity of castrating, but it is expected that this detection device may not be available until 2011.