title: Interaction of Skatole and Androstenone in the Olfactory Perception of Boar Taint.
abstract: This study analyzed odor-odor interactions of two malodorous volatile substances, androstenone and skatole, that may accumulate in fat and meat of uncastrated male (boar) pigs. Therefore, fat samples were collected from 1000+ entire male pig carcasses for sensory evaluation and quantification of boar taint compounds using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Each sample was sniffed by 10 trained assessors, resulting in 11 000+ individual ratings, which were subjected to statistical analysis. Pearson correlations of chemical traits and sensory traits (panel average) were higher for skatole [r(1029) = 0.59; p < 0.001] than for androstenone [r(1029) = 0.44; p < 0.001]. Linear terms of androstenone and skatole as well as their interaction significantly (p < 0.05) contributed to perception of deviant smell (R(2) = 0.43). Standardized regression coefficients illustrate the higher importance of skatole (β = 0.68) than androstenone (β = 0.39). Interindividual differences in the responses of assessors to androstenone and skatole are confirmed. A new curved approach is suggested because it better accounts for the interaction of androstenone and skatole than the "safe box" approach. On the basis of these data, sorting strategies using instrumental measurements are discussed. An automated detection based on only skatole measurements is recommended because its performance is only slightly inferior to a sorting based on both androstenone and skatole. Sorting thresholds need to be calibrated against consumer acceptance though.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen , Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mörlein
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen , Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mörlein
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen , Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gertheiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen , Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meier-Dinkel
authors.affiliation: ELFI Analytik GbR , Massenhausener Straße 18a, 85375 Neufahrn, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Tönnies Lebensmittel GmbH & Co. KG , In der Mark 2, 33378 Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Jörg
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Eynck
authors.affiliation: Vion Food Group , Boseind 10, 5280 AA Boxtel, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lourens
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heres
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn , D-53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Looft
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn , D-53115 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tholen
mesh_terms: D000738:Androsterone / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D055696:Olfactory Perception; D012862:Skatole / Q000032:analysis*; D012903:Smell; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D012862:Skatole; D000738:Androsterone
keywords: GC/MS; consumer acceptance; meat quality; pig animal welfare; quality control; sensory evaluation