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Table 1 Some alternatives to surgical castration

From: Moving towards taint-free pork – alternatives to surgical castration

Technique

Description

Reference

Advantage

Disadvantage

Considerations

To use methods for the screening of taint on-line

Colorimetric measurement of skatole equivalent

Mortensen & Sørensen [34]

Simple and rapid

Does not discriminate between skatole and indole. Does not measure androstenone levels

Nowadays, used in Denmark to sort out tainted carcasses

 

Colorimetric measurement of 16-androstenes

Squires [35]

Simple and rapid

Does not measure skatole levels. Never been validated at slaughterhouse settings

 
 

Electronic nose

Annor-Frempong et al [36]

Sensitivity and good correlation with records from human sensory panels

Does not discriminate between skatole and androstenone. Never been validated at slaughterhouse settings

 

Immunocastration

Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone at the end of the fattening period

Bonneau et al. [31] Dunshea et al. [32] and other

Reduced boar taint, aggression behavior and mountings

Some variability between studies. Not all pigs responded to immunocastration

Consumer reaction on the meat should be studied!

Slaughter at lower weight

90 kg or below

Bonneau [10] Zamaratskaia et al. [23] Aldal et al. [37]

Reduced the risk of boar taint. Common practice in UK.

Reduced economy. Does not entirely eliminate the problem (Aldal et al. 2005)

Methods for androstenone measurements differed between studies

Feeding diets rich in indigestible carbohydrates

E.g. inulin; raw potato starch; sugar beet pulp (short feeding period)

Jensen et al. [20]; Zamaratskaia et al. [23]; Rideout et al. [38];

Reduced skatole levels. No adverse effects on growth performance or animal health.

Does not reduce androstenone levels.

Indications of lower androstenone levels after feeding raw potato starch (unpublished)

Genetic selection

Against androstenone only

Willeke & Pirchner [29]; Sellier et al. [30]

Reduced androstenone levels

Reduced growth performance and delayed puberty in female pigs

Pigs with low androstenone when sexual mature should be chosen for such selections

Gender selection

Elimination of male type sperm cell

Johnson [39]

Production of female-only herds

Expensive. Possibility of sperm losses and cell damages during selection

Not commercially available