title: Boar taint, meat quality and fail rate in entire male pigs and male pigs immunized against gonadotrophin releasing factor as related to body weight and feeding regime.
abstract: The objective of this experiment was to compare the pork quality of entire male pigs and pigs immunized against GnRF (IC males) at both light (64.8kg) and heavy (106kg) liveweights and two feeding regimes (restricted at 2.5 times maintenance and ad libitum). There was no difference in objective measurements (P>0.05) or eating pork quality (P>0.1) between entire male and IC males. Fail rates were reduced by 9.1% and 12% for pork from IC males for quality grade (P=0.007) and re-purchase intention (P=0.001), respectively, compared to pork from entire males. Skatole (P=0.001) and androstenone (P<0.001) levels in belly fat were higher in entire male than IC male pigs. In addition, 37.5% of the light entire male pigs fed ad libitum showed skatole levels that exceeded the sensory threshold of 0.2μg/g. This work confirms that immunization against GnRF is effective in eliminating boar taint and reducing pork quality fail rates by approximately 10% compared to pork from entire males.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Livestock Industries, Department of Agriculture and Food, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia. Electronic address: karen@klmconsulting.com.au.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Sheep Industry Development, Department of Agriculture and Food, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Mullan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Dunshea
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000736:Androstenes / Q000032:analysis; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007114:Immunization / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000069466:Red Meat; D012862:Skatole / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; C000214:androst-16-en-3-one; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D012862:Skatole
keywords: Androstenone; Consumers; Fail rate; Immunocastrates; Pork eating quality; Skatole