The effect of GnRH vaccination on performance, carcass, and meat quality and hormonal regulation in boars, barrows, and gilts.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of GnRH vaccination in boars (BO), barrows (BA), and gilts (GI) slaughtered at an average BW of 133 kg. Forty BO, 40 BA, and 40 GI were housed individually, fed ad libitum, and divided into 2 groups of 20 pigs per sex, a control group (CON) and a GnRH vaccinated group (IC). The IC group received 2 injections of GnRH vaccine (Improvac) at 70 and 105 kg. In BA, GnRH vaccination had minor effects on performance. Observed effects in BO and GI are therefore probably not caused by the GnRH vaccination itself but by the subsequent withdrawal of gonadal hormones. In BO, the increased feed intake after GnRH vaccination (P < 0.001), accompanied by a fall in estradiol and testosterone levels, led to faster growth (P = 0.014), increased back fat thickness (P = 0.021), and a tendency for a decreased meat percentage (P = 0.052). GnRH vaccination of BO decreased the boar taint–related sensory attribute scores similar to the levels of BA and GI (P < 0.001). In GI, the increased feed intake after GnRH vaccination (P < 0.001), accompanied by low progesterone levels, led to faster growth (P < 0.001), increased back fat thickness (P = 0.018), decreased meat percentage (P = 0.032), and a decreased shear force (P = 0.002) without significant differences in the sensory profile.