February 4, 2010

Pig castration drug sparks debate in UK

A drug used to "chemically castrate" male pigs has gone on sale in the UK, sparking debate across the sector.

The drug, Improvac, is a vaccine that prevents pigs from releasing a specific hormone that causes bore taint - an unpleasant odour and taste that can be detected by around 15% of consumers.

The drug also offers an alternative to physical castration - which is discouraged in the UK due to welfare concerns - according to its manufacturer, Pfizer. 

However, Assured Food Standards (ASF), the body responsible for managing the Red Tractor mark used by 90% of all UK pig farmers, has told its producers they cannot use the drug.

Castration has been prohibited under ASF since its inception, even though the practice is widespread in other parts of the EU and the rest of the world.

Albert Bourla from Pfizer, said Improvac was an opportunity for UK producers where it was "an efficient and animal-friendly alternative to physical castration - proven to make no compromise on meat quality."

He emphasised the process was "not castration".

But David Clarke, AFS chief executive, said the UK pig industry was better off without it - for the time being. Castration is not allowed on welfare grounds which consumers find very important, he said.

"Whether this drug is safe and welfare friendly is not the issue - we would only introduce it if consumers accepted it. Currently we don't have any evidence from consumers so we are being cautious and will wait to see where the public debate takes us," he said.