**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SURGICAL CASTRATION (OR REMOVAL OF THE MALE PIGLET'S TESTICLES) IS A COMMON HUSBANDRY METHOD IN U.S. SWINE PRODUCTION. THE PROCEDURE IS CONDUCTED TO REDUCE FUTURE AGGRESSION BETWEEN PIGS, REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF UNWANTED MATING, AND TO IMPROVE MEAT QUALITY. HOWEVER, SURGICAL CASTRATION IS OFTEN CONDUCTED WITHOUT PAIN RELIEF. THIS IS DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING COST OF PAIN MEDICATION, INCREASED LABOR REQUIREMENTS,INCREASED NEED FOR VETERINARY ASSSISTANCE, AND THE NEED TO REPEATEDLY HANDLE THE MALE PIGLETS TO ENSURE PROPER PAIN RELIEF (HANDLING IS ALSO STRESSFUL FOR THE PIGLET).THEREFORE, SWINE PRODUCERS NEED ALTERNATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, EASY-TO-USE OPTIONS FOR REDUCING SURGICAL CASTRATION PAIN FOR THEIR MALE PIGLETS. THIS STUDY INVESTIGATES WHETHEROLEIC ACID, A COMMON FATTY ACID PRESENT IN SEVERAL ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE OILS (LIKE OLIVE OIL), COULD BE USED TO REDUCE PAINAND ACCELERATE THE WOUND HEALING PROESS IN MALE PIGLETS. PREVIOUS RESEARCH WITHRODENTSHAS SHOWN THAT OLEIC ACID CAN REDUCE CERTAIN TYPES OF PAIN AND ACCELERATECERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE WOUND HEALING PROCESS.THE OLEIC ACID UTILIZED IN THIS STUDY WILL BE BRUSHED ONTO THE PIGLET SCROTUM FOLLOWING CASTRATION AND WILL BE FORMULATED AS A GEL-TYPE SUBSTANCE TO IMPROVE CONTACT BETWEEN THE OLEIC ACID AND THE CASTRATION INCISION AREA. FOLLOWING CASTRATION, PIGLET BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY WILL BE EVALUATED FOR EVIDENCE OF REDUCED PAIN AND IMPROVED WOUND HEALING AS A RESULT OFOLEIC ACID PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION. IF SUCCESSFUL, THE OLEIC ACID PRODUCT MAY BE A VIABLE OPTION FOR PRODUCERS TO REDUCE CASTRATION PAIN FOR THEIR PIGLETS.