Efecto de la inmunocastración en los parámetros productivos del cerdo.

Abstract

The objective of the present research project was to determine the effect of immunocastration on the productive parameters of pigs compared to other techniques commonly used in castration. This was carried out by searching bibliographic information in different sources such as the Institutional Repository of the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, the digital repositories of other national and international universities, scientific journals, zootechnical manuals, third and fourth level degree studies and Latin American archives of animal production. A comparative study among authors was carried out and the results were plotted in the Excel. The productive variables analyzed were: initial and final weight (kg), daily feed consumption (kg), daily weight gain (kg), feed conversion and benefit/cost ratio. Research indicates that there is a higher initial and final weight in the immunocastrated pigs, especially in the fattening stage. Likewise, there is a lower feed consumption in immunocastrated pigs compared to surgically castrated pigs. In immunocastrated pigs there is a higher daily weight gain, this is due to the fact that immunocastrated pigs do not go through the "stress" process that a pig undergoes when castrated with a scalpel. Consequently, there is a better feed conversion, adding that immunocastration is more profitable since pigs at the time of being marketed have higher weight and therefore the value per kg of meat is higher. Thus, it is concluded that immunocastration is the best method of castration taking into account animal welfare, so immunocastration is recommended in pigs to eliminate aggressiveness, meat flavor and improve production parameters.