Instructions for Verification of Immunologically Castrated Hogs During Ante-Mortem Inspection - Revision 2
FSIS directive
6100.8
Series Type
6000 Series: Slaughter Inspection
Issue Date
May 26, 2023
Full Directive
- PURPOSE
This directive instructs inspection program personnel (IPP) to use quality assurance (QA) certificates as documentation to determine whether hogs treated with gonadotropin releasing factor analog - diphtheria toxoid conjugate (GRFA-DTC) are classified as barrows during ante- mortem inspection. If intact male hogs are presented for slaughter without a completed QA certificate, IPP are to address these hogs as intact boars. This revision provides new instructions for verifying the authenticity of the QA certificate for immunologically castrated (IC) barrows that have been treated with GRFA-DTC in the United States and IC barrows that are imported for slaughter. - CANCELLATION
FSIS Directive 6100.8, Instructions for Verification of Immunologically Castrated Hogs, Rev. 1, 01/14/21. - BACKGROUND
- GRFA-DTC is an approved pre-slaughter treatment given to growing intact male pigs for the temporary suppression of testicular function and reduction of boar taint (an unpleasant aroma or taste that can occur in cooked pork from some male pigs) in intact male pigs slaughtered for human food. It is a protein compound that uses the pig's own immune system to provide the same effect as surgical castration, but GFRA-DTC is administered much later in the pig's life than surgical castration. Both immunological and surgical castration reduce boar taint. IC temporarily blocks the biological cascade that leads to the development of androsterone and skatole, which are the substances responsible for causing boar taint. IC is distinctly different from chemical castration and should not be confused with or referred to as chemical castration. GFRA-DTC is also approved for the temporary suppression of estrus in female market hogs (gilts) intended for slaughter.
- There are at least three comparable characteristics that can be observed on ante-mortem between IC barrows and mature boars. These include but are not limited to:
- Reduction in aggressive, sexual behavior compared to mature boars;
- Visual differences in the relative size of testes (reduced in the IC barrows); and
- Color of the scrotum (IC barrows will typically not have reddened scrotums).
- All male hogs may have some odor. The decision to classify the hogs at barrows is based upon the establishment presenting a completed QA certificate at antemortem inspection. See IV. A.
- When IC barrows are delivered for slaughter under a GFRA-DTC certification program, there needs to be coordination among the establishment procurement employees, establishment operations, and IPP in the establishment. Although communication will be among establishment procurement, establishment management, and the IPP, the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD), Policy Development Staff is available for consultation and technical guidance, if needed.
- To qualify for slaughter as barrows, IC barrows are to be delivered to an establishment with a completed QA certificate. This document certifies that the IC barrows have received GFRA-DTC in compliance with the manufacturer's instructions and have been inspected for animal behavior and visual appearance on the farm to fully qualify as IC barrows before being loaded and delivered to the slaughter establishment. If intact male hogs are delivered for slaughter without a QA certificate, IPP are to address these hogs as intact boars (see Section IV. D.) The certificate may also include gilts when mixed gender loads are presented for harvest. Inclusion of GFRA-DTC administered gilts on the certificate is for convenience only.
- RESPONSIBILITIES
- IPP are to classify hogs as IC barrows when an establishment presents the QA certificate before ante- mortem inspection. This classification alleviates questions about any biological variation in the testes or the secondary sex organs that may be observed at slaughter.
NOTE: This directive does not apply to gilts. Because there are no secondary sex changes that affect the carcass disposition when gilts are treated with GFRA-DTC, a QA certificate is not required when GFRA- DTC treated gilts are presented for ante-mortem inspection. - IPP are to classify the IC animals as barrows during ante-mortem inspection when all fields on the certificate (whether treated in the US or imported for immediate slaughter) have been completed.
NOTE: The manufacturers of GFRA-DTC have received a USDA, Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) Process Verified Program for the quality assurance certification program. The USDA seal only appears on QA certificates for IC barrows raised in the US. - If the QA certificate is incomplete, IPP are to notify establishment management and give them an opportunity to obtain a completed certificate. If the establishment cannot present a completed QA certificate, IPP are to follow the instructions in paragraph D. of this section.
- If intact male hogs are presented for slaughter and there is no QA certificate, or if the certificate is incomplete, IPP are to address these hogs as intact boars, and the disposition will be made either under 9 CFR 311.37(c) or 9 CFR 311.20(a) or (b) to pass for food, pass for cooked comminuted food, or condemn, as appropriate. IPP are to document an MOI in PHIS with the subject line "Incomplete certificate for IC hogs" and describe the establishment's inability to provide a complete QA certificate.
- IPP are to classify hogs as IC barrows when an establishment presents the QA certificate before ante- mortem inspection. This classification alleviates questions about any biological variation in the testes or the secondary sex organs that may be observed at slaughter.
- QUESTIONS
Refer questions regarding this directive to your supervisor or as needed to the Office of Policy and Program Development through askFSIS or by telephone at 1-800-233-3935. When submitting a question, complete the web form and select General Inspection Policy as applicable for the Inquiry Type.
NOTE: Refer to FSIS Directive 5620.1, Using askFSIS, for additional information on submitting questions.