Analysis of the stakeholders’ attitudes for banning of castration of male pigs in Europe: focus group methodology

Abstract

Pig production is one of the major activities in Spain. Less than 20% of pigs are castrated mainly for meat quality purposes and to avoid boar taint. Due to the negative impact of castration to animal welfare European Union has planned to voluntary end surgical castration by 2018. The aim of this study was to know the attitudes of different stakeholders about this banning. Focus group methodology was used to assess it with the different stakeholders involved. Results showed that the stakeholders feel that because production of entire male pigs in Spain is already high, ending castration might not be a problem in a near future. But they think that exceptions to the declaration for high quality products such as differentiated quality and Iberian pig production have to be listed.