X15 is castrated without anaesthetic – a “normal” procedure in pig farming
On the morning of 30 June 2009 the piglet X15, whose life we will be accompanying, was castrated without any anaesthetic. Unfortunately this is usual practice.
250.000 piglets are castrated in the EU every day. In almost every case, no anaesthetic is used! The castration causes not only acute, but also chronic pain. This is the the conclusion that the scientific panel commissioned by the EU Commission came to.
Castration is completely prohibited in Norway. In the Netherlands and from 2010 on in Switzerland, castration will only be allowed if carried out under anaesthetic.
