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Pork QualityA look at a new management optionDr. James Bradford

DVM, MS, Dipl ABVP

Pfizer Animal Health

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Today’s purpose

• Brief you on a new technology currently under FDA review

• Review the science behind the product

• Get your thoughts

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What is the label claim?

“… intended for temporary immunological castration (suppresses testicular function) to control boar taint in intact male pigs intended for slaughter.”

– Veterinary prescription product only– Classified as a production tool – First of its kind in the U.S.

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What causes boar taint (off odor)?

It’s the result of two naturally occurring substances, androstenone and skatole, which begin to accumulate in the fat tissue of intact male pigs as they enter puberty

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What options exist for managing

off odor?• Nutrition• Early harvest • Genetic selection• Physical castration

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Managing off odor with nutrition

• Skatole levels can be decreased by using fermentable carbohydrates in pig diets

• However, skatole can also be absorbed from manure

• Only solves half the problem (doesn’t address androstenone)

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Managing off odor with early harvest

• Harvesting prior to puberty is effective

• There are significant disadvantages, including loss of total pig value

• The UK and Ireland practice early harvest

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Managing off odor with genetics

• Managing off odor by marker-assisted selection may be a future option

• But it’s probably years off

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Managing off odor with physical castration • Used with 95% of the

male pig population globally for centuries

• Highly efficacious • Reduces aggressive

male pig behavior

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What do we give up?

• All the natural growth advantages of raising an intact male pig: – Better feed efficiencies1

– Improved growth performance1

– Greater yield of lean meat1

• Less mortality, morbidity2

(Photo of barrow)

1. Suster et al. Longitudinal DXA measurements demonstrate lifetime differences in lean and fat tissue deposition in individually penned and group-penned boars and barrows. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research. 2006:57:1009-1015.

2. Allison, J. The impact of physical castration on pig health. Proceedings of Pfizer International Swine Symposium. Ottawa, Canada. 2009:22-25.

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We could keep all the natural growth advantages by raising intact male pigs

… while still ensuring consumers the same high quality pork experience they enjoy today?

What if …

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For the past 10 years there’s been an immunological product that has been doing just that, globally …

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Introducing Improvac

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Approved in 57 countries, including the EU and Japan

<2005 2005-08 2009 -10 Targeted for 2011

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What is Improvac?

• A protein compound that uses the pig’s natural immune system to control the substances that can create off odor in pork

• Temporary affect • Available by veterinary

prescription only • Vaccine*

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* The U.S. form of Improvac will not be classified as a vaccine.

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Improvac is NOT

• Chemical castration • Hormone or growth

promotant– Studies have

demonstrated the Improvac antigen has no intrinsic hormonal activity1

• A genetically modified product

1. Clarke et al. Inherent food safety of a synthetic gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRF) vaccine for swine. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine. 2008:6:7-14.

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How does this product work?

Show video clip that describes how product works (from Improvac site)

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What is the process?

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•VIDEO CLIP: Canadian video of administration

How is it administered?

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How does this product perform?

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Efficacy

• As effective as current practices– 10 years of studies* show

efficacy greater than 99%

* Refer to 55+ peer-reviewed studies showing its efficacy, safety and behavior results.

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Efficacy Incidence of androstenone and skatole in fat tissue from intact male pigs. Nearly 50% had off odor (boar taint) above the sensory threshold.

Not a problem

Not a problem

Long-term damage to reputation

of pork

Long-term damage to reputation

of pork

Risk of consumer complaints

Risk of consumer complaints

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Efficacy

Male pigs on the IMPROVAC program (n=228)

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Safety

• Animal: No adverse effects in laboratory studies1

• Worker: 25 million doses safely administered with only a few minor incidents

(Vaccination photo)

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1. Singayan-Fajardo et al. Effect of Improvac on the eating quality and acceptability of boar pork. In Proceedings 3rd Asian Pig Vet Society Congress. Wuhan, China. 2007.

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Human and food safety

• It’s safe1 – No withdrawal time,

globally – No oral activity– Product is only active

when given by injection

• More than 10 years of experience in Australia and New Zealand

(Photo of people enjoying pork)

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1. Clarke et al. Inherent food safety of a synthetic gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRF) vaccine for swine. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine. 2008:6:7-14.

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Meat quality

• In 17 comparison studies, the pork quality was found to be the same as physical castrates or female pigs – pH

– Drip loss/leanness

– Shear force/tenderness

Boar ImprovacCastrate

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– Juiciness

– Color

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Feed conversion & sustainability

• Compared with barrows there is:– Improvement in feed

efficiency1,2 – Reduction in greenhouse

gases, fecal waste3

1. Moore et al. Paylean® improves feed conversion efficiency of entire and immunocastrated male pigs In J.E. Paterson (Ed.), Manipulating Pig Production X. Proceedings biennial conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association. Christchurch, New Zealand. 2005.

2. Dikeman, M. Effects of metabolic modifiers on carcass traits and meat quality. Meat Science. 2007: 77:21-135.

3. Hennessy, M. Society benefits: The environment. Proceedings of Pfizer International Swine Symposium. Ottawa, Canada. 2009:62-64.

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Economic impact

• 8% to 10% increase in feed efficiency1

• Increase in overall yield of lean pork2 – 8 pounds extra lean

meat per carcass

1. Crane, J. Improvac®: Product profile, safety and efficacy. Proceedings of Pfizer International Swine Symposium. Ottawa, Canada. 2009:9-17.

2. McKeith et al. Impact of using vaccination with Improvac® rather than physical castration on the carcass characteristics of finishing male pigs. Proceedings International Congress Meat Science & Technology. Copenhagen, Denmark. 2003.

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Animal behavior

• Animals have low aggression, reduced mounting compared to intact male pigs1

– Some signs of aggression occur at the onset of puberty

– 22 weeks, 180 lbs.

(Photo of sleeping pig/finisher stage)

1. Dunshea, F. Impact of immunization against GnRF on growth performance of male pigs. Proceedings of Pfizer International Swine Symposium. Ottawa, Canada. 2009:17-34.

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Effect on the animal

• Decreases pre-weaning mortality1

• Pigs maintain natural growth characteristics1

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1. Allison, J. The impact of physical castration on pig health. Proceedings of Pfizer International Swine Symposium. Ottawa, Canada. 2009:22-25.

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Cronin et al. (2003) video monitoring study

The results of the experiment suggest that the social and feeding behaviors of immuno-castrated males at 21 weeks were similar to surgically-castrated males.

Cronin et al. The effects of immuno- and surgical-castration on the behavior and consequently growth of group-housed, male finisher pigs. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 2003:81(2)111-126.

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Housing of male pigs vaccinated against GnRF in single sex groups of 12 individuals does not increase behavioral problems in the fattening period compared with surgically castrated males.

Baumgartner et al. The behavior of male fattening pigs following either surgical castration or vaccination with a GnRF vaccine. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 2010:124(1): 28-34.

Baumgartner et al. (2010) video monitoring study

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Fàbrega et al. (2010)video monitoring study

Results from this study indicate that some welfare aspects, such as a reduced aggression and mounting behavior, may be improved by vaccination against GnRH…

Fàbrega et al. Effect of vaccination against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, using Improvac®, on growth performance, body composition, behavior and acute phase proteins. Livestock Science. 2010:132(1):53-59.

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Rydhmer et al. (2010)

After the second injection, immuno-castrated pigs showed less non-violent social and aggressive behaviors than entire male pigs of the same age.

Rydhmera et al. Immuno-castration reduces aggressive and sexual behavior in male pigs.

Animal. 2010:4:965-972.

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Zamaratskaia et al. (2008)

Immuno-castrated pigs remained sexually inactive throughout the study.

Zamaratskaia et al. Long-term effect of vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing hormone, using Improvac, on hormonal profile and behavior of male pigs. Animal Reproduction Science. 2008:108(1):37-48.

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We want your thoughts

We’d like to get this peer-reviewed research validated by U.S. animal behavior experts

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Getting the product right is only half the equation

Equally important is to get the process right

Success

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What’s the quality assurance process?

• Unprecedented QA process in Brazil … – Verified, certified process– Prescription product– Administered only by trained personnel– Adding traceability system

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What is the veterinarian’s role?• Prescribe product• Verification process• Certification process• After training is

complete, vets invited to be part of application process

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AK: Slide 40 on vet's role --- is this for the US?? No clear to me and we need to be careful on this one as it varies by region. At a minimum, spell out "vet". . .

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We could have all the natural growth advantages by raising intact male pigs Is this a

viable option? … while still ensuring consumers the same high quality pork experience they enjoy today?

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What if…

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Thank you!