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The pig industry currently faces the fact that consumers no longer accept castration of boars. Therefore alternatives need serious investigation. Provimi has researched boar fattening on their research farm De Viersprong in the Netherlands.

Four treatments were included: boar fattening with and without vaccination (Improvac®, Pfizer), barrow and gilt fattening. As expected, feed conversion rate was highest for barrows due to high feed intake. Boar fattening appeared to be the most efficient. 

Table 1. Performance results of swine fattening trial 0-123 days

"The vaccination of boars on day 80 has led to a strong increase in both feed intake and daily growth: boars start to act as barrows after the second vaccination," says Pieter Wolleswinkel, Product Manager Swine Provimi.
From a financial point of view the margin over on feed costs is highest for non-vaccinated boar. Yet this does not include any additional costs or reduced revenues due to boar taint problems. Vaccination of the boars also proves to be economically beneficial over barrow fattening (vaccination costs not included).

Table 2.  Financial results of swine fattening trial

The data from this trial offered an opportunity to verify the Provimi nutritional requirements of boar fattening. It can be concluded that these are still accurate.
In the coming months Provimi will be highlighting the requirements to feed millers and distributors ensuring solid on-farm nutritional programs.