title: The measurement of the responses to different odour intensities of `boar taint' using a sensory panel and an electronic nose.
abstract: This study explored the possibility of using an electronic nose (e-nose) with a 12-conducting-polymer sensor array combined with pattern recognition routines to discriminate between varying intensities of boar taint. A set of samples in a model system comprising a neutral lipid base containing varying combinations of androstenone and skatole were tested, as were pork fat samples. The e-nose responses for pork fat were calibrated against those given by a trained 10-member sensory panel for abnormal odour of the same samples from a total of 60 Large White cross-bred pigs. The e-nose responses related strongly to those of the sensory panel with a significant (p<0·01) canonical correlation of 0·78. The data set was used to develop a discriminant function for grouping pork samples into three `response classes': normal, doubtful and abnormal. Based on this, the e-nose identified all the abnormal samples correctly. However, 16% of the normal samples were also classified as abnormal. It was concluded that, in general, the electronic nose can discriminate between different levels of boar taint and that although a high specificity of sensors to androstenone and skatole may be desirable it may not be entirely important to the development and configuration of a boar taint sensor array.
authors: Division of Food Animal Science, School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK; Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors: I E
authors: IE
authors: Annor-Frempong
authors: G R
authors: GR
authors: Nute
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Wood
authors: F W
authors: FW
authors: Whittington
authors: A
authors: A
authors: West