Influence of breed and slaughter weight on boar taint prevalence in entire male pigs

Self Cite

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of various boar taint detection methods, measure the relationship between them and identify possible points of improvement for boar taint detection. The methods used to evaluate boar taint in the carcasses of 448 entire male pigs and 17 barrows were the hot iron method (n 5 442), a standardised (n 5 323) and home (n 5 58) consumer meat-evaluation panel, an expert panel assessment of meat and fat (n 5 464) and laboratory analysis of skatole, androstenone and indole in fat (n 5 464). The axillary odour of a number of slaughtered entire male pigs was also investigated (n 5 231). As correlation coefficients were generally weak, a positive result for one of these detection methods did not per se result in a positive result for all other methods. Results of one detection method could not be generalised. The choice to use one or more detection methods deserves consideration depending on the aim of the study. In this paper, we suggest some possible improvements for evaluating boar taint with a consumer panel based on our results and experience. The home consumer evaluation was correlated with the concentration of indole (r 5 0.27) but not with skatole or androstenone. We therefore recommend that lab analyses include indole testing. The hot iron method seems to be an easy and fast detection method, which yields comparable or better correlation coefficients with the other detection methods than an expert panel evaluating fat samples. However, the reliability of the hot iron method depends on the training and reliability of one or two assessors. Efforts should be made to further optimise this method by evaluating the effect of testing conditions. The axillary odour score was moderately correlated with the other detection methods (up to 0.32). More research is needed to evaluate the possibilities of axillary odour as a boar taint detection method.

Section: Animals and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of various boar taint detection methods

Aluwé¹,

Tuyttens²,

Bekaert

et al. 2012

Self Cite

“…In previous studies low but significant correlations have been found between carcass/live weight and boar taint compounds due to its link with pubertal development and AND, resulting in increased AND concentrations in fat of heavier entire male pigs (Walstra et al, 1999;Babol et al, 2002;Aluwé et al, 2011). Nearly all (90%) of the samples in the present study came from carcasses between 77.1 and 113.5 kg; it is possible that these commercial slaughter weights are too high to find a significant effect on boar taint development.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

“…Correlation coefficients have often been found to be positive but are either low or non-significant at commercially relevant slaughter weights (Walstra et al, 1999). Interactions between slaughter weight and breed have been found as well, reflecting differences in pubertal development between breeds (Walstra et al, 1999;Zamaratskaia and Squires, 2009;Aluwé et al, 2011). Lean meat percentage has been found to be weakly negatively correlated to boar taint compounds (Walstra et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Olfactory evaluation of boar taint: effect of factors measured at slaughter and link with boar taint compounds

Heyrman

Millet²,

Tuyttens³

et al. 2017

Self Cite

There is a commitment by the European pig sector to ban surgical castration of male piglets in the European Union in 2018. One alternative to castration is to raise entire male pigs, with an increased risk of boar taint. A field study was performed to: (1) evaluate interand intra-farm variation in boar taint prevalence, (2) investigate factors measured at slaughter influencing boar taint and (3) evaluate the relationship between sensorial scoring by a trained panel and the concentration of boar taint components. From 34 farms, neck fat samples were collected from all entire male pigs in at least two slaughter batches per farm (78 batches; 9167 animals). In addition to olfactory boar taint analysis, data were also collected on fresh skin lesions (score 0 to 3) at the slaughter line, slaughter weight, lean meat percentage, duration of transport, time spent in lairage, total delivery duration, day length, shortening of days and outdoor mean temperature. Using the hot iron method, neck fat samples were scored (eight-point scale) for boar taint. Average boar taint prevalence (score ≥3) was 5.6 ± 2.5% and the mean difference between the maximum and minimum prevalence per farm was 4.3 ± 3.2%. Androstenone (AND), skatole (SKA) and indole concentrations were measured for a subset ( n = 254) of the samples. According to binomial univariate mixed models, entire male pigs with a higher skin lesion score had higher odds of having boar taint ( P = 0.031), as did fatter entire male pigs ( P < 0.001). In the binomial multivariate mixed model lean meat percentage ( P < 0.001) and outdoor mean temperature ( P = 0.005) remained as only significant factors. Based on our results, we can conclude that these statistically significant at least partially influence the prevalence of boar taint. According to the binomial univariate mixed models SKA concentration in liquid fat seems a better predictor for boar taint than AND. There were no significant synergetic effects between boar taint compounds.

“…A Danish study by Maribo (2012), also dealing with organic pigs, reported a similar level with an average androstenone concentration of 2.3 µg/g for animals ranging from 77 to 86 kg carcass weight. Studies of conventionally reared entire male pigs report somewhat lower levels, although with variation (Xue et al, 1996;Zamaratskaia and Squires, 2009;Aluwé et al, 2011). In addition, stage of sexual maturity at slaughter (Zamaratskaia et al, 2005b), or differences in boar taint detection methods and study design could be suggested to affect androstenone levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weight and season affects androstenone and skatole occurrence in entire male pigs in organic pig production

Thomsen

Edwards

Jensen

et al. 2015

To investigate the extent to which the level of androstenone and skatole decreases with a decrease in live weight and/or age at slaughter of entire male pigs produced under organic standards, 1174 entire male pigs were raised in parallel in five organic herds, distributed across four batches in summer and winter. The median androstenone level was high for organic entire male pigs (1.9 µg/g), but varied greatly both within and between herds. Median skatole level was 0.05 µg/g, also with a wide range both within and between herds. Decreasing live weight over the range of 110 ± 15.6 kg s.d. was found to decrease androstenone as well as skatole concentration, however, with different patterns of association. Age did not have significant direct effect on either androstenone or skatole levels. Androstenone levels were higher during winter than summer ( P < 0.0001), but no difference in skatole was found between seasons. The study concludes that decreasing live weight at slaughter could be an applicable management tool to reduce risk of boar taint and the level of tainted carcasses for a future production of entire male pigs within the organic pig production system, although further studies are needed as great variation in boar taint was found also for low weight animals.