The testicles produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone. Pork from boars, or uncastrated male pigs at slaughter weight, may have an odor during cooking that is very offensive to many people. Various techniques are used for castration. The position of the animal during surgery and the method and degree of rest- raint are dictated by the age and size of the animal. The best time to castrate a pig is between 1 and 21 days of age.
Young pigs are easier to hold or restrain.
They bleed less from surgery and may have antibody protection from the sow's colostrum. Pigs can be successfully castrated on day one. One of the major disad- vantages of castrating early is that scrotal hernias are more difficult to detect. Most scrotal hernias are genetic in origin. Do not keep for breeding, boars and gilts from any litter in which one or more pigs was herniated.