Boar: animal welfare, not thought through
A comment by Ulrike Gonder
What few consumers know: Male piglets are castrated shortly after birth because castrati are more sociable and better to keep than males. In addition, one needs for their mast less food, they put on more fat, and their meat is tender. Most important, however, that meat can have an intense scent of boars, not good. From the sex hormones formed in sexually mature animals caused substances that smell of urine. Also, bad housing conditions and stress can lead to odor abnormalities in intact males. That's why this country no boars were fattened, but the piglets castrated equal. However, with this conventional practice for centuries, according to which the EU will soon end. Background: The castration is usually carried out without anesthesia, which is of concern for animal welfare reasons. What is easy to understand for any animal lover, still poses problems. Because what should happen instead of the usual procedure? The really knows nobody - what up to 30 million male pigs slaughtered each year in Germany, is already worrying.
An alternative would be castration under anesthesia. But it is more complex for pig farmers who are afraid besides sitting on the extra cost to stay because of the trade always drives down prices. In addition, after waking up from the anesthesia piglets does the wound naturally still hurt. Alternatively, there is a kind of inoculation, which ensures that the hormone production of the animals will be paralyzed before slaughter. Consequently, under the remains of unpleasant odors. In Australia and South America, this method is applied with success. But it costs money, especially for the veterinarian is to come.
A third alternative is the boar, mainly for animal rights (initially) sounds positive, because you can not manipulate the animals. Then, however, takes the problem with selling the "Stinker" be solved. While it can not perceive any unpleasant scents, but it is mainly women who react sensitively in this and reject such meat. The course alerted the meat industry, which in no way wants "Stinky meat" goes on sale and scared the clientele. Researchers are now working feverishly on detection methods, so that the corresponding carcass can be sorted out. If it is mixed with enough non-smelling flesh, they can be easily processed to sausages. However, by this method, only the really big in the industry would benefit, which in turn is afraid the craft: Who processed only two pigs a week, has a big problem, if one is of a stinker. Therefore, the butcher's trade rejects the boar categorically.
It is made yet another reason not as optimal as it first appears: Young boar drive like jokes and squabble like. This includes the ride up to conspecifics, biting and infighting. This leads to some serious and painful injuries that are certainly worse and cost you more than the castration of piglets. The costs associated with it should therefore be added to the price and consumers to be worth every penny.
Sources:
-
Pollmer, U: boar taint in pork. Broadcast "meal" in Germany radio from 14.10.2012, 11.50 pm
-
Weiler, U: serious approach hip. ProAgrar, press service of 2.9.2009
-
Arden, M: boar - playing with fire? Top agricultural No. 11 / 2012, 18-23 S.
This comment is first on Ulrike Gonders website www.ugonder.de appeared. Thank you for the permission to reproduce.
Source: Hünstetten [Ulrike Gonder]
