New Zealand
Improvac Logo

BETTER WAY
FORWARD

Why control boar taint? Effective control of boar taint is essential for the pork industry. Although not dangerous, boar-tainted meat is disliked by many consumers and thus must be minimised in the supply chain.

People vary in their sensitivity to boar taint, and affected meat is described as having an offensive odour like that of urine, musk, perspiration, onions or faeces.

Physical castration is the most common method of controlling boar taint: over 95% of male pigs are estimated to be physically castrated.

Contrary to popular belief, however, the practice of physical castration is not 100% effective in controlling boar taint: studies show that up to 3% of gilts and physical castrates can have detectable taint levels as assessed by either chemical analysis or sensory evaluation. Heavily soiled living conditions can promote high levels of the taint compound skatole in any pig, including gilts, young boars and castrates.

Male pigs that have been physically castrated are less efficient than intact boars at converting feed into lean body weight and so they cost more and have a greater environmental impact (i.e., more manure, more phosphorous, more energy) in reaching the same weight. They also produce a carcass with a lower proportion of lean meat.

For more information, please visit www.boartaint.com.

IMPROVAC offers producers an effective, animal-friendly, environmentally sustainable alternative to physical castration. In fact, consumers agree that vaccination with IMPROVAC is the preferred method for managing boar taint. Producers too are able to capture the performance, health and carcass quality benefits of rearing male pigs as entire boars for most of the finishing period. Fifteen years of commercial use and studies in many countries have consistently shown that IMPROVAC is more than 99% effective against boar taint; it is therefore at least as effective as physical castration.

* The IMPROVAC Dosage Odometer displays an approximate number of vaccine doses administered to date worldwide, is based on previous sales data and monthly sales estimations. Sales Data Source: Zoetis.
DAVID HENNESSY M. AGRI SCI, PHD

SENIOR SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Zoetis Inventor of the first commercial boar taint vaccine

TRANSCRIPT OF VIDEO TEXT

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

IMPROVAC® is the first commercial vaccine against boar taint.

Developed in Australia and available there and in New Zealand since 1998, IMPROVAC has since been approved in over 60 other countries. More are expected in the near future.

IMPROVAC has created a new paradigm in pig production by safely and effectively reducing the presence of the two major sources of boar taint (androstenone and skatole) in the male pig without resorting to physical castration.

In addition to being effective against boar taint, IMPROVAC allows the pig to maintain the natural, positive growth characteristics of an intact boar for most of the finishing period, avoids the animal welfare concerns associated with the pain and stress of physical castration, and reduces excessive male behaviour in the sexually mature pig to further enable full growth potential

The success and consistent performance of pigs vaccinated with IMPROVAC has been well documented on farms and in various scientific studies.

HOW DOES IMPROVAC® WORK?
+
HOW IS IMPROVAC® MADE?
+

VOICES OF THE INDUSTRY

“It will give [the consumers] peace of mind that pigs are raised in a more animal-friendly way.”

—Jens Christian Jensen

“One of the benefits of this product for the general consumer, a person who likes to eat pork, is that they will continue to get the same high-quality pork they are getting at the moment, but that they will get it with the knowledge that it is produced in a more animal-welfare friendly, more humane, more environmentally responsible method of production. So it’s the socially responsible alternative for production of pork.”

—Dave Hennessy

FILTER BY
quote

“One of the benefits of this product for the general consumer, a person who likes to eat pork, is that they will continue to get the same high-quality pork they are getting at the moment, but that they will get it with the knowledge that it is produced in a more animal-welfare friendly, more humane, more environmentally responsible method of production. So it’s the socially responsible alternative for production of pork.”

David Hennessy M. Agri Sci, PhD

Senior Special Projects Manager
Zoetis
Inventor of the first commercial boar taint vaccine

quote

"We began using IMPROVAC I think at the beginning of 2008. We vaccinated about 400 finishing pigs. If you look at animal welfare of course castration gives a lot of distress to the animal."

Mart Smolders, General Manager Wim Aarts, Herd Manager

Wageningen University and Research Centre, Animal Sciences
Group
The Netherlands

DOWNLOAD TESTIMONIAL (PDF 20k)
quote

"I can mention some aspects I observed after starting using [IMPROVAC] in our company. For example, it lowered the mortality risks and reduced the need for antibiotics, since we don’t have to treat surgical wounds anymore and the animal is no longer exposed to secondary infection risks."

Yuso Henrique Tutida

Veterinarian
Frigorífico Riosulense
Pamplona, Brazil

DOWNLOAD TESTIMONIAL (PDF 20k)
quote

"We have adopted [IMPROVAC] in our company, in an attempt to try and answer the needs of the modern consumer who are concerned about the welfare of the animal and also to lower production costs and improve profits through meat and carcass yield."

Marcelo Locatelli

Veterinarian
Suinocultura Locatelli
Brazil

DOWNLOAD TESTIMONIAL (PDF 20k)
quote

"The most positive effect of IMPROVAC® is the welfare, there is no need to castrate anymore; I think that is the most important benefit of IMPROVAC."

Dr Hans Verhoeven

Veterinarian
The Netherlands

DOWNLOAD TESTIMONIAL (PDF 20k)
quote

"In many swine markets around the world, vaccination is replacing physical castration as the method of choice for avoiding boar taint. The technology has now been licensed in over 60 countries* and was recently introduced in Switzerland, where Hans Breitenmoser runs a swine production unit in Appenzell." *22 at the time of recording.

Hans Breitenmoser

Swine Producer
Switzerland

DOWNLOAD TESTIMONIAL (PDF 20k)
LOAD MORE TESTIMONIALS

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Below you will find further detail on the technical information:

EXPLANATION OF TWO-DOSE ADMINISTRATION
+
HOW TO ADMINISTER
+
RESEARCH PROVES EFFICACY
+
IMPROVAC ENABLES PIGS TO GROW LIKE BOARS
+
IMPROVAC® CONSISTENTLY DELIVERS IMPROVED FEED EFFICIENCY
+
IMPROVAC® – ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF QUALITY
+
VISIBLE EFFICACY, ON FARM AND AT FINISHING
+
IMPROVAC® CAN LESSEN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
+
SAFETY FOR ALL
+

FAQ

Below you will find frequently asked questions and answers for both IMPROVAC ® and Boar Taint.

Frequently asked questions and answers for IMPROVAC®.
WHAT IS IMPROVAC®?
+
What is boar taint?
+
How does IMPROVAC work?
+
DOES IMPROVAC ACTIVELY ELIMINATE BOAR TAINT?
+
What are the ingredients of IMPROVAC?
+
Is IMPROVAC a hormone?
+
Does IMPROVAC contain genetically modified components?
+
Is pork from pigs given IMPROVAC safe to eat?
+
Why are two injections needed for IMPROVAC to work?
+
What would happen if a pig worker accidentally self-injected with IMPROVAC?
+
What steps should be taken by people who accidentally receive an injection with IMPROVAC?
+
What steps have been taken to reduce the risk to workers?
+
Do pigs given IMPROVAC look different?
+
Does meat from pigs given IMPROVAC look or taste different?
+
What is the main benefit of using IMPROVAC?
+
Can IMPROVAC be used for pigs slaughtered after weeks 26–27?
+
Will male behaviours such as fighting and mounting be a problem and how can these be managed?
+
Does IMPROVAC guarantee 100% protection against boar taint?
+
Can IMPROVAC be used in mature boars?
+
What about consumers?
+
Why is IMPROVAC adoption important for society?
+
Is IMPROVAC environmentally friendly?
+
Why has it taken so long for IMPROVAC to be introduced to other countries outside Australia and New Zealand?
+
In how many markets has IMPROVAC been launched?
+
What are the compounds that cause boar taint?
+
How do these cause boar taint?
+
How many pigs does it affect?
+
Why don’t all male pigs have boar taint?
+
Is boar taint a disease?
+
Is boar taint dangerous?
+
Can boar taint be assessed before the pig is slaughtered?
+
How can boar taint be controlled?
+
Are there any other ways to control boar taint?
+

PRESCRIBING INFO

prescribe-info

BEFORE USE OF IMPROVAC®

prescribe-info

AFTER USE OF IMPROVAC®

Below you will find details of the prescribing information:

KEY BENEFITS OF NOT CASTRATING +
CONTRAINDICATIONS +
STORAGE +
SHELF LIFE +
WITHHOLDING TIME +

NEWS

Below you will find frequently asked questions and answers for both IMPROVAC ® and Boar Taint.

LATEST NEWS UPDATES

  • EXPERIENCE WITH IMPROVAC AS A PRODUCER AND VET IN AUSTRALIA - PIG INTERNATIONAL

    Describes how the focus on the domestic fresh pork industry has resulted in the increased focus on quality, and technologies to assist
    quality enhancement in Australia…

  • Swiss launch means that Boar Taint Vaccine is now licensed in 63 Countries

    Swiss pig farmers are the first in Europe to use a vaccine to prevent boar taint. The new technology, now approved by the country’s licensing authority, offers a commercially viable alternative to the physical castration of piglets.

  • The new look pork industry, John Deen article

    Globally, the pork producing industry is under pressure. Well documented and dramatic increases in the cost of feed, labour and construction, along with changing consumer attitudes, have become key drivers for a new look industry

  • IMPROVAC - the Mexican experience

    As the revolutionary boar taint vaccine makes its debut in Europe, Mexico is already experiencing the benefits of the new technology throughout its pork supply chain.

  • IMPROVAC development

    In 1993, an Australian Animal Health company decided to withdraw all funding from its research into a revolutionary method of neutering dogs. Although a previous study had confirmed that castration could be achieved using a vaccine,

  • EMA approves Zoetis vaccine against boar taint

    PARIS, France – May 14, 2009 – Pfizer Animal Health today announced that The European Medicine Agency (EMEA) has given Pfizer the go-ahead to market its innovative swine vaccine, Improvac®, across the European Union (EU).

KEY FACTS AND FIGURES

PIG VACCINATION AROUND THE WORLD +
CASTRATION +
CONSUMER TASTE-TEST DATA +
IMPROVAC ® LICENSING+

Copyright ©2018 Zoetis. All rights reserved. The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of countries in which it is
approved for sale. The products discussed herein may have different label indications in different countries. The animal health information
contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with your veterinarian. All decisions
regarding animal health care must be made with a veterinarian, considering the unique characteristics of each operation and producer’s situation.