For the past year, pig farmers have been allowed to supply boars to the French pig cooperative Cooperl. After a successful, year-long trial, the farmers are positive and buyers are satisfied.
According to Cooperl, the farmers concerned do not wish to return to castration as the pigs generate more income and it saves them a lot of unappealing work. A trial with a vaccine (immunocastration) proved unsatisfactory and expensive.
Market acceptance is crucial in Cooperl’s opinion. The company supplies meat from uncastrated pigs to the UK. Pig farmers that produce for the ham market are not very enthusiastic because the meat isn’t accepted yet.