title: Evaluating the performance of sensory quality control: the case of boar taint.
abstract: Detection of malodours referred to as 'boar taint' in entire male pigs is essential for quality control when refraining piglet castration. This study analysed the sensitivity and specificity of sensory evaluation by trained assessors (n=18) compared to chemical analysis of two marker compounds (androstenone, skatole) in backfat (n=794). Taking the measurement uncertainty into consideration, several cut-off thresholds for chemical analysis were exemplarily evaluated. Using the panel average score, sensitivity and specificity of sensory analysis ranged from 61 to 69% and 77 to 85%, respectively. Performance of individual assessors varied highly (sensitivity: 47 to 86%; specificity: 45 to 88%) and correlated to olfactory acuity to the compounds. According to receiver operating characteristic-curves, the average panel performed better than single assessors regardless of the sensory criterion shift. Agreement plots illustrate that high skatole levels are better detected than high androstenone levels (useful for assessor feedback). The agreement between sensory and chemical analyses was moderate. Assessors need to be selected carefully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Meat Quality Section, University of Goettingen, D-37075 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meier-Dinkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Biometrics and Bioinformatics Section, University of Goettingen, D-37075 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gertheiss
authors.affiliation: Thuringian State Institute for Agriculture, Section Animal Production, Regional Office Bad Salzungen, D-36433 Bad Salzungen, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Breeding, Behavioral Physiology of Farm Animals, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Raffael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wesoly
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Meat Quality Section, University of Goettingen, D-37075 Goettingen, Germany. Electronic address: daniel.moerlein@agr.uni-goettingen.de.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mörlein
mesh_terms: D000736:Androstenes / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011786:Quality Control; D012372:ROC Curve; D012862:Skatole / Q000032:analysis*; D012903:Smell; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D012862:Skatole
keywords: Androstenone; Meat quality; Method comparison; Piglet castration; Sensory analysis; Skatole