Between 97 and 100% of piglets are castrated without being anaesthetised, according to a damning report by the non-profit animal rights association GAIA.
Cited in an article published by RTBF recently, GAIA's report states that five to six million male pigs are raised each year, and 80% of male piglets are castrated – around 4 to 4.8 million animals a year. Of this number, 3.9 to 4.8 million piglets are castrated without being anaesthetised each year.
In Belgium, of all piglets castrated each year, zero to 144,000 of them are castrated with the administration of procaine, an anaesthetic drug. This drug is injected into both testicles of the piglet and reduces the pain felt by the piglet during the incision.
RTBF reports that GAIA launched a petition earlier this week to end the cruel practice in Belgium, describing the act of unanaesthetised castration as "shocking" and "painful".
"This is the most horrific intervention that remains in livestock at present," the association said in a statement.
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The call for action won the support of the Flemish Minister for Animal Welfare, Ben Weyts, who said he had already put the issue on the European Union's agenda.
RTBF also reports that GAA revealed a new poll conducted by the Ipsos institute which shows, according to the NGO, that three out of four Belgians are in favour of a legal ban on surgical castration of piglets.
"After explaining alternative methods of castration, because they exist, even 86% of Belgians think there should be a legal ban," the GAIA statement said.
