Research shows there is no chance of implementing a complete ban on castration in 2009 without large negative consequences for Norwegian pig production - both practical and economic. The Norwegian government is being asked to postpone the ban, which is scheduled within two years, to allow further investiogations.

The pig industry beleives that a delay is vital, becasue currently banning castration would adversely effect Norwegian pig production.

Castration in Norway can only be carried out by vets using an anaesthetic. It is usually done for meat quality/ marketing requirements.

When researchers first set out to discover the practicalities of anaesthetised castration, they found that over 50 percent of the vets who took part in their survey were satisfied with the outcome, whereas two-thirds of producers were unhappy. However, two years later, only a third of the producers remain dissatisfied.

In the survey, piglets were most often castrated using a combination of subcutaneous and intratesticular administration of lidocaine with adrenaline at an average age of ten days. Post-operative complications were rare.