Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o efeito da condição sexual sobre o desempenho, concentração de testosterona, características de carcaça e qualidade da carne de bovinos Nelore confinados. Cinquenta e oito machos bovinos (430 ± 36 kg; 24 meses de idade), foram divididos em três grupos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Foi realizado, em 15 animais, o procedimento de castração cirúrgica (CC), aos 12 meses de idade, enquanto que 21 animais receberam duas doses da vacina de imunocastração (IC), dentro de um intervalo de 30 dias, e 22 animais permaneceram não-castrados (NC). Os animais foram alocados em baias individuais e alimentados com uma dieta contendo 70% concentrado e 30% volumoso durante noventa dias precedidos por um período de adaptação de vinte e um dias. Foi avaliado o desempenho e características de carcaça a cada 28 dias. Os animais foram abatidos e foi avaliada a qualidade da carne. Animais NC apresentaram maior ganho de peso, eficiência alimentar, peso de carcaça quente e rendimento de carcaça comparado com animais CC e IC (P<0.05). Animais castrados apresentaram maiores valores de cor L*, a*, b* e perda por cocção que animais NC (P<0.05). A imunocastração diminuiu o desempenho dos animais, comparado com animais CC ou NC. Porém, é uma alternativa à castração cirúrgica pois possui as mesmas características de carcaça e qualidade da carne. A imunocastração melhora a cor da carne e diminui a frequência de carnes DFD comparado com animais NC. / This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the sexual condition on performance, testosterone concentration, carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot Nellore cattle. Fifty-eight males (430 ± 36 kg BW; 24 mo old) were divided into three groups in a randomized complete design. Surgical castration (SC) procedure was performed in 15 animals at 12 months old, whereas 21 animals received two doses of immunocastration vaccine (IM), within an interval of 30 days. In addition, 22 animals remained intact (NC). The animals were allotted in individual pens and daily fed a diet containing 70% concentrate and 30% roughage during ninety days preceded by an adaptation period of twenty one days. Performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated every 28 days. The animals were slaughtered and the meat quality was evaluated. The NC animals showed greater average daily gain, feed efficiency, hot carcass weight and carcass yield compared with SC animals and IM (P <0.05). Castrated animals had higher color values L *, a *, b * and cooking loss that NC animals (P <0.05). Immunocastration decreased performance when compared to SC or NC animals. However, it is an alternative tool to surgical castration because it has the same carcass characteristics and meat quality. Immunocastration improves the color of the meat and reduces the frequency of DFD meat compared to NC animals.

Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o efeito da condição sexual sobre o desempenho, concentração de testosterona, características de carcaça e qualidade da carne de bovinos Nelore confinados. Cinquenta e oito machos bovinos (430 ± 36 kg; 24 meses de idade), foram divididos em três grupos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Foi realizado, em 15 animais, o procedimento de castração cirúrgica (CC), aos 12 meses de idade, enquanto que 21 animais receberam duas doses da vacina de imunocastração (IC), dentro de um intervalo de 30 dias, e 22 animais permaneceram não-castrados (NC). Os animais foram alocados em baias individuais e alimentados com uma dieta contendo 70% concentrado e 30% volumoso durante noventa dias precedidos por um período de adaptação de vinte e um dias. Foi avaliado o desempenho e características de carcaça a cada 28 dias. Os animais foram abatidos e foi avaliada a qualidade da carne. Animais NC apresentaram maior ganho de peso, eficiência alimentar, peso de carcaça quente e rendimento de carcaça comparado com animais CC e IC (P<0.05). Animais castrados apresentaram maiores valores de cor L*, a*, b* e perda por cocção que animais NC (P<0.05). A imunocastração diminuiu o desempenho dos animais, comparado com animais CC ou NC. Porém, é uma alternativa à castração cirúrgica pois possui as mesmas características de carcaça e qualidade da carne. A imunocastração melhora a cor da carne e diminui a frequência de carnes DFD comparado com animais NC. / This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the sexual condition on performance, testosterone concentration, carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot Nellore cattle. Fifty-eight males (430 ± 36 kg BW; 24 mo old) were divided into three groups in a randomized complete design. Surgical castration (SC) procedure was performed in 15 animals at 12 months old, whereas 21 animals received two doses of immunocastration vaccine (IM), within an interval of 30 days. In addition, 22 animals remained intact (NC). The animals were allotted in individual pens and daily fed a diet containing 70% concentrate and 30% roughage during ninety days preceded by an adaptation period of twenty one days. Performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated every 28 days. The animals were slaughtered and the meat quality was evaluated. The NC animals showed greater average daily gain, feed efficiency, hot carcass weight and carcass yield compared with SC animals and IM (P <0.05). Castrated animals had higher color values L *, a *, b * and cooking loss that NC animals (P <0.05). Immunocastration decreased performance when compared to SC or NC animals. However, it is an alternative tool to surgical castration because it has the same carcass characteristics and meat quality. Immunocastration improves the color of the meat and reduces the frequency of DFD meat compared to NC animals.

Surgical castration of young male piglets is an extremely common husbandry procedure in the United States swine industry, with nearly 100% of males castrated. The procedure is performed primarily to prevent the occurrence of boar taint in the meat and to reduce aggression as the animals age. No research has investigated the impact of surgical castration on the long-term mood states – also known as the affective state – of piglets, but it has been proven to cause both acute and chronic pain that can last up to 4 days, modify piglet behavior, and reduce weight gain. Because of this, feasible approaches for pain alleviation are needed. A hinderance to this is that currently no analgesics are approved for piglets. In addition, we need validated, practical methods to recognize pain in piglets in order to help researchers, veterinarians, and caretakers to identify the need for analgesics. One useful tool for this could be the Piglet Grimace Scale, which has previously been validated in this context, but is not widely applied. The current lack of analgesic use during castration may be cause for concern for consumers, however little is known about the public's knowledge on the industry's practices. Therefore, the thesis' objectives are to (1) assess the impact of surgical castration on pain and affective states, (2) determine people's ability to recognize pain expression after surgical castration, and (3) get insights into public perception of swine industry practices. In Chapter 3, we assessed the impact of surgical castration and practical pain alleviation methods during and after castration on piglets' short and long-term affective states and activity levels. Piglets were surgically castrated, castrated with analgesics, or sham-handled at 3 days of age. Data on piglets' activity (using accelerometers), tails (affective states), and grimaces (pain expression) were collected for 1, 6, and 24 hours after castration treatments while piglets were in their home pens. An attention bias test was then performed in week 1 and 12 to assess anxiety (an affective state). Home pen activity after castration treatments suggested that there was a positive impact of using analgesics. The piglets' behavior (eating) and activity during the attention bias test at week 1 suggest a negative impact of castration on affective states. The differences observed in week 1 were no longer found in week 12, suggesting that any impact of surgical castration at 3 days of age on affective states are no longer detectable at 12 weeks of age. In Chapter 4, through an online survey we investigated the validity and reliability of Piglet Grimace Scale ratings applied by swine industry professionals and the general public, to assess its potential utility in non-research settings. The survey contained a training, followed by 9 piglet images showing facial expressions immediately after castration or sham-handling. Both response groups were able to recognize pain in castrated piglets. However, both response groups overestimated pain experience compared to trained experts, suggesting more training may be necessary. Nevertheless, overall, the scale can be widely applied by veterinarians, industry professionals and even members of the public. In Chapter 5, a survey provided initial insights into public knowledge and perceptions on castration and analgesia use and compared this to industry stakeholders. The results show that knowledge on industry practices was especially lacking for public respondents, but also for a minority of industry respondents, indicating opportunities for education and further research on the topic. / Master of Science / Surgical castration is performed on nearly every male piglet in the United States swine industry. Males are castrated to prevent the occurrence of boar taint and to reduce aggression. Boar taint is the unpleasant odor produced by the skatole and androsterone in the fat when the meat is prepared. It is unclear how this practice impacts piglet's long-term mood states (affective states), but we do know it causes pain, changes in behavior, and reduced productivity. Thus, we need feasible approaches for pain relief. However, there are currently no pain relievers approved for piglets. In addition, we need validated, practical methods to quantify pain in piglets in order to identify the need for pain relief. One useful tool is the Piglet Grimace Scale, which is validated but is not widely applied. The current lack of pain relief use during castration may concern consumers, yet no data is collected on this. Therefore, the thesis' objectives are to (1) assess the impact of surgical castration on pain and affective states, (2) determine people's ability to recognize pain expression after surgical castration, and (3) get insights into public perception of swine industry practices. In Chapter 3, we assessed the impact of surgical castration and practical pain alleviation methods during and after castration on piglets' short and long-term affective states and activity levels. Piglets were surgically castrated, castrated with analgesics, or sham-handled at 3 days of age. Home pen activity after castration treatments showed a positive impact of using analgesics. The piglets' behavior and activity during an attention bias test at week 1 suggest that piglets were experiencing a negative emotional state after castration. The differences seen in week 1 were no longer found in week 12. This suggests that any potential impact of surgical castration on affective states are no longer detectable at 12 weeks of age. In Chapter 4, an online survey was used to investigate the Piglet Grimace Scale ratings applied by swine industry professionals and the general public. After training, respondents scored 9 images showing facial expressions of piglets after castration or sham-handling. Both public and industry people were able to recognize pain in castrated piglets. However, both response groups overestimated the pain experience compared to trained experts, suggesting more training may be necessary. Nevertheless, overall findings suggest that the scale can be widely applied. In Chapter 5, a survey provided insights into public knowledge and perceptions on castration and pain relief use in the industry, and compared this to industry stakeholders. The results showed that knowledge on industry practices was especially lacking for public respondents, but also for a minority of industry respondents, indicating opportunities for education and further research on the topic.