An Immunological Approach for Prevention of Boar Odor in Pork

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Abstract
The objective of this study was to inhibit accumulation of the C19-Δ16-steroids responsible for boar odor in pork by actively immunizing young, growing boars with C19-Δ16-steroid-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates. Thirty-two boars from eight separate litters were allotted into three different treatment groups. Group 1 consisted of 16 intact boars that were immunized on three occasions at average weights of 30, 55 and 75 kg with a 1:1 mixture of 5,16-androstadien-3β-ol-BSA and 4,16-androstadien-3-one-BSA to block production of C19-Δ16-steroids. Group 2 consisted of eight intact non-immunized boars (untreated controls), while Group 3 consisted of eight barrows castrated at 21 d of age. Immunization reduced (P<.05) mean (58%) and mode (79%) sensory scores for boar-odor intensity and reduced mean adipose-tissue concentrations of the C19-Δ16-steroids (63%). However, three of the immunized boars had adipose-tissue concentrations of 5α-androst-16-en-3-one (.98µg/g) and 5α-androst-16-en-3α-ol (.14 µ.g/g) that were comparable to those of the untreated control boars. Exclusion of the data from these three boars from statistical analysis reduced boar-odor intensity scores by 75% (mean) and 93% (mode) and adipose-tissue concentrations of C19-Δ16-steroids by 80%. Additional research is needed to determine the optimal age/weight, frequency and duration of the immunization scheme required to completely inhibit production of the C19-Δ16-steroids. The immunization procedure did not affect weight gain, efficiency of feed utilization, average backfat thickness or percent carcass muscle. Copyright © 1986. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1986 by American Society of Animal Science

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