Plans already underway in Switzerland and the Netherlands to ban traditional hog castration have stimulated ideas that should reduce stress on the operators as well as the male hogs
by NORMAN DUNN
Switzerland has determined that no hog castration will take place without anaesthetic as from 2010 and already some retailers are refusing to market meat from traditionally castrated males. In the Netherlands, an alliance of food trade, retailers and farmers has agreed to call a halt even earlier – from March 1, 2009.