4. Conclusions
Vaccination with Improvac reduces boar taint without affecting other meat quality variables. Fat depth of carcasses from vaccinated males was more like carcasses from surgically castrated in the loin area while in the ham area they were more similar to female carcasses. Vaccinated male carcasses were less lean than carcasses from entire males.
An integral evaluation, incorporating the results of production (Fàbrega et al., submitted for publication), meat and carcass quality and sensory characteristics (Font i Furnols et al., 2008 and Font i Furnols et al., 2009), suggests that vaccination with Improvac for boar taint control will provide a good alternative to surgical castration.