1. FSIS Requirements associated with Slaughter of Immunologically Castrated “Barrows”
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2. What is IMPROVEST®?
IMPROVEST® is the brand name of an FDA/CVM approved biological protein compound used to immunologically “castrate” young boars
Alternative to surgical castration
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3. What is IMPROVEST®?
Inhibits the development of the male reproductive organs and natural hormones
Has a temporary effect
Approved in 63 countries including EU, Japan, Canada and China
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4. IMPROVEST® is approved for use in 63 countries
Global product names include: Improvac, Vivax, Innosure
<2005
2009
2010
2011
2 countries:
Australia (1998)
New Zealand (1998)
21 countries:
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Korea
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
Philippines
Russia
South Africa
Switzerland
Thailand
Venezuela
Vietnam
31 countries:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Malta NL
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden UK
4 countries:
Japan
Croatia
China
Uruguay
5 country US
Canada
Ukraine
Serbia
Dominican Republic
The manufacturer of IMPROVEST® is not aware of any trade restrictions world-wide (consulted with USMEF)
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5. How does IMPROVEST® work?
Uses the pig’s natural immune system to control development of reproductive organs and limit the production of other substances that can create odor in pork meat.
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6. What is IMPROVEST®? Food Safe - Zero withdrawal period
2 Dose Treatment Regimen
“Restricted Use” Only
Available by veterinary prescription only
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7. Slaughter Interval
The most recent FDA approval of IMPROVEST stipulates it is intended for slaughter no earlier than 3 weeks and no later than 10 weeks after receipt of the second dose of IMPROVEST.
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8. FSIS Requirements Associated with Slaughter of IMPROVEST® “Barrows”
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9. How does use of IMPROVEST® impact meat inspection?
AMS treats Immunologically Castrated Boars as “Barrows”
Requires Presentation of IMPROVEST® Declaration Certificate to IPP
“Certified” Lots are segregated from and differentiated from “uncertified” boars or stags.
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10. IMPROVEST® - Classified as Barrows
USDA Classification – Guidance to Industry – May 25, 2011
“Intact male swine receiving IMPROVEST as per FDA-approved label instructions and before sexual maturity would be considered barrows at the time of slaughter. Therefore, packers would report them as barrows under Livestock Mandatory Reporting. The definition of a barrow (7 CFR ) is ‘a neutered male swine, with the neutering performed before the swine reached sexual maturity.’ Further, any product from these swine would be considered product from a barrow.”
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11. How does use of IMPROVEST® impact meat inspection?
NOTE: It is only the accompaniment of the “IMPROVEST® Declaration Certificate” that enables IMPROVEST® Boars to be treated as “Barrows”.
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12. The IMPROVEST Certificate: United States
Provides assurance that intact male pigs were effectively administered IMPROVEST® and that all on farm protocols and quality assurance inspections occurred.
Intact male swine receiving IMPROVEST® with the accompanying certificate are defined by USDA-AMS as barrows and any product from these swine is considered product from a barrow.
The IMPROVEST® Declaration Certificate that accompanies each load of market swine will make additional scrutiny of secondary sexual organs of Immunocastrated (IC) barrows on post mortem unnecessary.
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13. SAMPLE
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14. The IMPROVEST® Declaration Certificate:
Canada
SAMPLE
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15. What useful information should IPP take from this presentation?
IPP need the IMPROVEST® Declaration Certificate to classify boars as “barrows”.
IPP will learn how to differentiate:
IMPROVEST® “barrows” from all other male swine (boars, stags, or unidentified intact male swine).
“boar taint” from external carcass contamination
FSIS Regulations regarding “odors”
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16. Comparison of Intact Boars, Surgically Castrated Barrows, and IMPROVEST® “Barrows” on Ante Mortem
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17. Surgically castrated barrows
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18. IMPROVEST® market hogs
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19. IMPROVEST® market hogs
VS.
Intact boar
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20. Boars and Stags
IPP can quickly verify for the presence of boars and stags in a pen of market hogs when performing ante mortem.
It is expected IMPROVEST® barrows will appear and behave similar to barrows and gilts.
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21. Visual Comparison of Barrows, IMPROVEST® Barrows and Boars on the Rail
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22. IMPROVEST® Barrow
Boars
vs.
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23. Visual Comparisons of the Male Reproductive Organs of Barrows, IMPROVEST® “Barrows” and Intact Boars
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24. Basic Male Swine Reproductive Anatomy
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25. Comparison of Swine Testes Intact Boar vs. Immunocastrated
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26. Comparison of Swine Testes
vs. Boar
IMPROVEST®
Barrows
boar
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27. Comparison of Male Swine Reproductive Tracts
IMPROVEST®
Barrow
Boar
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28. Bulbourethral glands
Boar
Barrow
IMPROVEST®
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29. IMPROVEST®
BOAR
BOAR
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30. Comparison of Swine Reproductive Tracts
(Skrlep et al. 2010)
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31. Barrow Reproductive Tract
Bulbourethral gland
(Cowpers)
Seminal Vesicles
Penis
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32. IMPROVEST® Barrow Reproductive Tract
Residual Testicles
Bulbourethral gland
(Cowpers)
Seminal
Vesicles
Penis
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33. Mature Boar Reproductive Tract
Normal Testicles
Bulbourethral gland
(Cowpers)
Seminal Vesicles
Penis
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34. 10/04/12

35. Biological Variation among IMPROVEST® Barrows and Boars
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36. Biological Variability
Within each population (e.g. treated vs. untreated), there is natural variability best evaluated by statistical means.
As a result, it is not meaningful to make assessments on only secondary sex organs (seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands) of individual animals as an indicator of overall effectiveness of immunocastration.
IPP are to rely on their routine inspection procedures and presentation of the IMPROVEST® Declaration Certificate.
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37. Biological Variation in Male Swine Reproductive Tract Organs
Seminal Vesicles
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Example of Biological Variation That May Be Seen at Harvest

38. Testicle Size Variation
Testicle size of IC barrows will vary based on
Inherent genetic variation
Temperature of environment (testicles descend from body in warmer temperatures)
Age and maturation of the animal when the second immunization is administered which slow/stops further development of testicles. (Dunshea et al J. Anim. Sci., 79:
Example of variation in scrotum size from immunocastrated barrows

39. Testicle Size Variation
Presentation of testicles in the pan for inspection, when intended for edible food, should not be scrutinized for size as an indicator of effective immunocastration
Biological variation and age of animal at second dose will dictate testicle size at harvest
Boar
Immunocastrated Barrow
Immunocastrated Barrows
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Example variation of testicles from Immunocastrated barrows

40. Immunocastrated Barrow
Seminal Vesicles (SV)
Pale colored seminal vesicles with minimal secretions are both indicative of non-functional sexual organs
Boar
Immunocastrated Barrow
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41. Variation in Color and Size of Seminal Vesicles
Immunocastrated Barrows
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42. Comparison of Male Swine Reproductive Tract Organs
The normal variation within boars and IC barrows seen during post mortem harvest are affected by:
Age at injection,
Genetics,
Nutrition, and
Environmental conditions effect
Example of Biological Variation That May Be Seen at Harvest
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43. Discussion of Regulatory Requirements Relative to Carcass Presentation, Carcass Contamination and Odors
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44. IMPROVEST® Swine Testes
Testes from IMPROVEST® barrows may be saved as “edible”.
Testes are subject to inspection requirements in 9 CFR
Testes may be presented with the viscera or may be batch collected and are subject to reinspection by IPP per
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45. USDA FSIS Regulations
Sec Removal of spermatic cords, pizzles and preputial diverticuli.
Spermatic cords and pizzles shall be removed from all carcasses. Preputial diverticuli shall be removed from hog carcasses.
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46. Pizzle and Prepuce Removal
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47. Preputial Diverticulum
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48. Preputial Diverticuli
Preputial diverticuli contain decomposing epithelial cells, urine, and bacteria. If opened, the contents of the preputial diverticuli have a strong odor and have the appearance of swine fecal material.
Such localized contamination must be removed from the carcass surface.
Such odor must be distinguished from “boar taint” most prominent in fat tissues.
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49. USDA FSIS Regulations Sec. 311.37 Odors, foreign and urine.
Carcasses which give off a pronounced odor of medicinal, chemical, or other foreign substance shall be condemned.
Carcasses which give off a pronounced urine odor shall be condemned.
Carcasses, organs, or parts affected by odor to a lesser degree than as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section and in which the odor can be removed by trimming or chilling may be passed for human food, after removal of affected parts or dissipation of the condition.
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50. Boar Taint “Boar Aroma” Sexual Odor
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51. Boar Taint
Term associated with an unpleasant aroma or taste in cooked pork from some mature male swine.
Swine typically reach puberty at 5-6 months – when market hogs (butcher hogs) typically are sent to slaughter
Domestic swine reach sexual maturity at 8-9 months. The more mature the swine, the more likely “boar taint” is likely to be detected.
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52. Boar Taint
Androstenone and skatole are the major contributing compounds to boar taint in pork.(Patterson, 1968, Bonneau et. al., 2000)
Caused by accumulation of androstenone (from testicles of pubertal and especially mature swine) and skatole ( a by-product from tryptophan metabolism in large intestine).
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53. Boar Taint
Generally accepted threshold values for detecting boar aroma: (Godt et. al., 1996; Bonneau, 1998)
androstenone > 1.0 ug/g (or 1000 ng/g)
skatole >0.20 ug/g (or 200 ng/g)
Presence of boar taint is variable among pigs and can have differing levels of intensity. (Xue & Dial, 1997)
Gilts can also have boar taint compounds.
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54. USDA FSIS Regulations Sec. 311.20 Sexual odor of swine.
(a) Carcasses of swine which give off a pronounced sexual odor shall be condemned.
(b) The meat of swine carcasses which give off a sexual odor less than pronounced may be passed for use in comminuted cooked meat food product or for rendering. Otherwise it shall be condemned.
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55. Sensory Panel Testing used to Evaluate for Evidence of Boar Taint*
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56. Sensory Panel
Some segments of the human population are more apt to detect such odors.*
Consumers have varied abilities to detect boar aroma. (Xue & Dial, 1997)
“Boar taint” is not a food safety issue – it is simply a preference or acceptability issue for consumers
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57. Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
Images within this presentation were provided courtesy of Pfizer, Inc.
USDA FSIS does not endorse any commercial products.
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58. Questions?
Contact PDD at OR Submit questions to askFSIS:
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