Since 1 January 2021, piglets in Germany are no longer castrated without anaesthesia. The Piglet Anaesthesia Competence Regulation was introduced to allow someone other than a vet to administer anaesthesia during piglet castration. Anaesthesia using isoflurane during piglet castration can now therefore be administered by competent persons. This is a new situation for everyone involved.

As part of the Federal Livestock Farming Programme, a centre of expertise for isoflurane anaesthesia in suckling piglets, named ‘IsoKomp’, was therefore established in October 2021 by Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the pig health services of the Chambers of Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Farmers, farm veterinarians, supervisory authorities and manufacturers can obtain free support and advice there. The regional contact persons record the problems and investigate them.

Two of these contacts are Dr Marina Beisl (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich) and Dr Jakob Aundrup (LUFA North-West, Institute for Animal Health). In conversation with Dr Sabine Schütze (North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture), they report on their experiences to date. Which subsidised devices are in use? At what signs should I seek help? Who can you contact if problems arise?

A case study illustrates how to proceed in the event of problems with isoflurane anaesthesia.