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Boar neutering

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Deleted member 146903

After neutering, boars must wait some time before being introduced to sows (six weeks seems to be the experience-based consensus here)

Elsewhere I’ve come across people who distinguish based on the neutering technique used (scrotal vs abdominal). The claim is that the boar becomes “safe” faster when the abdominal technique is used.

I suppose that could be true if more is removed when using the abdominal method. Does anyone here know if that is the case?
 
Sikorsky said:
After neutering, boars must wait some time before being introduced to sows (six weeks seems to be the experience-based consensus here)

Elsewhere I’ve come across people who distinguish based on the neutering technique used (scrotal vs abdominal). The claim is that the boar becomes “safe” faster when the abdominal technique is used.

I suppose that could be true if more is removed when using the abdominal method. Does anyone here know if that is the case?
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Hi!

Having had a surprise baby courtesy of a supposedly safe over 5 weeks rescue boar, I would personally recommend to rather not push it and sit out the 6 weeks; as I have done with any of the boars I had neutered myself in the years since Tegan's arrival. While Tegan herself was a blessing after I'd lost a youngster due to a genital defect from an uncontrolled breeding situation only 3 months earlier, her arrival couldn't have come at a more inconvenient time for my husband and me and massively upset the rescue lady.

Not having met Tegan's dad (she is the baby in my avatar picture on the left, by the way) as he'd already been rehomed by the time I adopted Tegan's mother (not showing her pregnancy) and auntie, I can't say how he was neutered although in 2011 the scrotal method was generally the usual one.

It is simply not worth it when going to all the expense and effort of a neutering op. In the greater scheme of things, 2 weeks more for absolute peace of mind is a small price to pay.
 
The six weeks seems a reasonable precaution, I'm not challenging that. I'm just curious about the two different procedures - is more of the boar's reproductive system being removed with the abdominal technique compared to scrotal neutering? Does anyone here know?

(The vet we used has extensive experience neutering boars, but she's a long drive away, so I can't ask her).
 
Sikorsky said:
The six weeks seems a reasonable precaution, I'm not challenging that. I'm just curious about the two different procedures - is more of the boar's reproductive system being removed with the abdominal technique compared to scrotal neutering? Does anyone here know?

(The vet we used has extensive experience neutering boars, but she's a long drive away, so I can't ask her).
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The issue is not the testicles but any semen left in the tubes leading to the penis. Semen can theoretically stay live for over 3 months but in a decade with hundreds of rescue boars being neutered, we have never had any report of a post 6 weeks pregnancy, which would make the rounds like wildfire.

Before the RSPCA decided on the 6 weeks during the ongoing deadline discussion at the time, we did see a few pregnancies from 4 weeks (and most definitely less time) boars on here. It was also not hard to find verifiable first or second-hand reports of over 5 weeks pregnancies; in the wake of Tegan's birth I got to hear about quite a few of them.

Since we have an international membership with very varying access to vets, we are most certainly not going to change our recommendations. It is much better to err on the side of caution than sorting out the ensuing mess in our pregnancy section... Mis-sexing and the sale of already pregnant sows are keeping us busy enough!
 
@Wiebke Fair enough. Looks like this thread is taking a completely different direction from what I intended with my question, so I’d ask you to please lock or remove it.
 
Sikorsky said:
@Wiebke Fair enough. Looks like this thread is taking a completely different direction from what I intended with my question, so I’d ask you to please lock or remove it.
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Unlike social media, we don't remove any threads unless they infringe really badly on the forum rules nor do we lock threads unless a discussion is turning sour and causes some major upset on the forum.

Somebody else may have different experiences or information. We are always open to other opinions and a friendly, respectful discussion.
 
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