Verhalten und Wachstum von Ferkeln nach der Kastration unter Injektions- oder Inhalationsnarkose

Summary

In German organic agriculture, general anaesthesia of male piglets before castration is commonly performed by injection of ketamine and azaperone, plus application of the analgesic meloxicam. Inhalation anaesthesia with isoflurane (plus meloxicam) is an alternative with a shorter recovery phase and widely used in Switzerland, but requires reclassification for pigs on a case to case basis in Germany. In order to provide data on piglets´ behavior after castration and potential long-term effects on growth until
weaning, a trial under practical conditions on an experimental farm was conducted. Body weight development until weaning was not affected by the method of
anaesthesia. However, piglets anaesthetised with injection showed significantly more motoric anomalies and were in danger of being crushed more frequently during the first eight hours after castration. We conclude that piglets recover faster after inhalation anaesthesia, therefore the approval and use of isoflurane can be recommended.