Assessment of the respective contributions of skatole and androstenone to boar taint. Preliminary results of a study conducted in 7 European countries

The present study was an attempt to reach a European agreement on the respective contributions of skatole and androstenone to boar taint. Eleven participants from 7 countries were involved in the programme.A total of 4536 animals were raised in 6 countries in two replicates. Rapid measurements of skatole and androstenone levels in fat were performed. On the whole, 26% of the animals exhibited androstenone levels higher than 1 ppm while 11% of them had skatole levels in excess of 0,22 ppm. No difference was demonstrated between replicates, however there were large differences between countries for both compounds.Three hundred and seventy eight entire males were selected in such a way as to fill in the 9 cells of a table combining 3 androstenone and 3 skatole level categories. Forty two gilts were also selected. The corresponding loins were distributed in the 7 participating countries for olfactory assessment of pork by consumers. Both skatole and androstenone significantly contributed to odours and flavours that were perceived as unpleasant by the consumers. The combination of the two compounds also contributed significantly. Particularly for odour, the contribution of skatole was more clearly established than that of androstenone. However, the contribution of androstenone to boar taint may have been under-estimated in the present study. Moreover, because more animals exhibit high androstenone than high skatole levels, the realcontribution of androstenone may then be higher than that derived from the sole results of the consumer survey.