Proceedings

The effect of inulin-feed and improved housing conditions on boar taint reduction

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Abstract

The potential ban on surgical castration in Europe is turning a major advantage of this practice, the elimination of boar taint, into a big challenge for pig industry (Meinert et al., 2017). Raising entire male pigs has some economic advantages as boars possess the advantage of superior growth over castrates, generally leaner carcasses, and compared to castrates less feed is needed in order to achieve the same final weight (Morlein et al., 2015; Wauters et al., 2017). Boar taint is described as an unpleasant odour which becomes especially intense when pork is cooked (Mathur et al., 2012), and is mainly associated with the presence of skatole and androstenone. Skatole (3-methylindole) is a metabolite derived from the amino acid tryptophan produced in the lower gut by intestinal bacterial flora, and androstenone (5α androst-16-en-3-one) is a steroid produced in the testis (Aldal et al., 2005). Introduction of functional ingredients in feed can reduce boar taint. Aluwe et al., (2013), Backus et al., (2016), Byrne et al., (2008) reported that inulin was effective in the reduction of the skatole’s concentration in the hindgut Housing conditions and genetic selection can also have a favourable effect on boar taint reduction (Backus et al., 2016).

How to Cite:

Barbosa, C., Vaz Velho, M., Reis, N. & Pinto, R., (2019) “The effect of inulin-feed and improved housing conditions on boar taint reduction”, SafePork 13(1), 203-204. doi: https://doi.org//safepork.11453