Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T19:49:36.141Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influence of stocking rate and faeces deposition in the pen at different temperatures on skatole concentration (boar taint) in subcutaneous fat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

L. L. Hansen ,
A. E. Larsen ,
B. B. Jensen ,
J. Hansen-Møller  and
P. Barton-Gade
L. L. Hansen
Affiliation:
National Institute of AnimalScience P.O. Box 39, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
A. E. Larsen
Affiliation:
National Institute of AnimalScience P.O. Box 39, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
B. B. Jensen
Affiliation:
National Institute of AnimalScience P.O. Box 39, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
J. Hansen-Møller
Affiliation:
Danish Meat Research Institute, Maglegårds-vej 2, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
P. Barton-Gade
Affiliation:
Danish Meat Research Institute, Maglegårds-vej 2, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigatethe effect of stockingrate (0·6 m2 per pig or ≥1·2 m2 per pig) and faeces plus urine deposition on skatole concentration (boar taint)in subcutaneousfat. The study utilized pens with concrete flooring and different environmental temperatures.

The experimental material consisted of 144 cross bred male and female pigs in each of two experiments. One experiment was carried out in the summer (temperature ≥ 22°C) and one in the winter (temperature approx. 17°C in the pig house). In both experiments, stocking rate and faeces deposition were kept constant up to first delivery to the abattoir. Then stocking rate and faeces deposition were changed to the opposite treatment a week before the last three of the four deliveries to the abattoir.

The experiment confirmed the hypothesis that the pigs which lay in their faeces plusurine in pens with the high stocking rate for at least a week had a higher skatole level in subcutaneous fat than pigs kept clean in pens with the low stocking rate. It was feasible within a week before slaughter to increase or lower the skatole level by changing the treatment of the pigs.

Male and female pigs showed similar differences. Air temperature (season) had a significant influence on skatole level. The level was significantly higher in subcutaneous fat at hight emperatures in the summer experiment compared to the winter experiment despite the fact that the pigs with high stocking rate in the winte rexperiment were as heavily fouled with faeces and urine as those in the summer experiment.

Skatole concentrations in faeces of individual pigs were not influenced by different temperatures or treatments, and there was no significant correlation between the skatole level in faeces and in subcutaneous fat.

High skatole levels in subcutaneous fat seemed to have a genetic component.

It is hypothesized that skatole from faeces plusurine (excreta) especially at temperatures of 30° Cor more may pass through the skin of the pig and/or that skatole in a gaseous form may be absorbed through the lungs.

Keywords

boar taintfaecesskatolestockingratetemperature
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 59 , Issue 1 , August 1994 , pp. 99 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agergaard, N. and Laue, A. 1993. Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and liver turnover of skatole. In Measurement and prevention of boar taint in entire male pigs (ed.Bonneau, M.), pp. 107–111. Institut Nationalde la Recherche Agronomique, Paris.Google Scholar
Bray, T. M. and Carlson, J. R. 1980. Tissue and subcellular distribution and excretion of 3–14C) methylindolein rabbits after intracheal infusion. Journal of Canadian Physiology and Pharmacology 58: 1399–1405.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonneau, M., Le Denmat, M., Mortensen, A. B. and Mortensen, H. B. 1993. Relationships between fat androstenone and skatole levels and the organoleptic assessment of pork and cooked ham. In Measurement and prevention of boar taint in entire male pigs (ed. Bonneau, M.), pp. 81–86. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris.Google Scholar
Friis, C. 1993. Distribution, metabolic fate and elimination of skatole in the pig. In Measurement and prevention of boar taint in entire male pigs (ed. Bonneau, M.), pp. 113–115. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris.Google Scholar
Gariepy, C., Amiot, J. and Nadai, S. 1989. Ante-mortem detection of PSE and DFD by infrared thermography of pigs before stunning. Meat Science 25: 37–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansen, L. L., Barton-Gade, P. and Vorup, P. 1991. Effect of mixing “peaceful” or “aggressive” pigs at abattoirs on their behaviour and meat quality. Proceedings of the international congress of the Society for Veterinary Ethology, twenty-fifth anniversary 1966–1991, on applied animal behaviour (ed. Appleby, M. C., Horrell, R. I., Petherick, J. C. and Rutter, S. M.), p. 88 (abstr.). Universities Federation for Animal Welfare.Google Scholar
Hansen, L. L., Larsen, A. E., Jensen, B. B., Hansen-Moller, J. and Barton-Gade, P. 1993. [Influence of stocking rate and temperature on faeces deposition in the pen and its consequences on skatole concentration (boar taint) in subcutaneous fat.] Statens Husdyrbrugsforseg [NIAS], forskningsrapport no. 2.Google Scholar
Hansen-Moller, J. 1992. Determination of indolic compounds in pig back fat by solid phase extraction and gradient high performance liquid chromatography with special emphasis on the boar taint compound skatole. Journal of Chromatography 624: 479–490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansen-Moller, J. 1993. HPLC methods for determination of indole, skatole and related indoles in pig backfat. In Measurement and prevention of boar taint in entire male pigs (ed. Bonneau, M.), pp. 35–39. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris.Google Scholar
Hansson, K.-E., Lundstrom, K. and Malmfors, B. 1975. Effect of sex and weight on growth, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of pigs. 2. Carcass characteristics of boars, barrows and gilts, slaughtered at four different weights. Swedish Journal of Agricultural Research 5:69–80.Google Scholar
Hawe, S. M. and Walker, N. 1990. Effect of diet on skatole concentrations in the intestine and adipose tissue of growing pigs. Animal Production 50: 551 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Hawe, S. M. and Walker, N. 1991. The effects of involuntary coprophagy on the production of skatole in growing pigs. Animal Production 53: 105–109.Google Scholar
Hawe, S. M., Walker, N. and Moss, B. W. 1992. The effects of dietary fibre, lactose and antibiotic on the levels of skatole and indole in faeces and subcutaneous fat in growing pigs. Animal Production 54: 413–419.Google Scholar
Jensen, B. B. 1990 [Skatole (boar taint), microbial production of skatole in the intestinal tract of pigs.] Statens Husdyrbrugsforsoq [NlASI, meddelelse, no. 772.Google Scholar
Jensen, B. B. and Jensen, M. T. 1993. In vitro measurement of microbial production of skatole in the digestive tract of pigs. In Measurement and prevention of boar taint in entire male pigs (ed. Bonneau, M.), pp. 99–105. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris.Google Scholar
Kjeldsen, N. 1993. Practical experience with production and slaughter of entire male pigs. In Measurement and prevention of boar taint in entire male pigs (ed. Bonneau, M.), pp. 137–144. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris.Google Scholar
Larsen, A. E., Hansen, L. L. and Hansen-Moller, J. 1993. Influence of keeping pigs heavily fouled with faeces or clean for at least a week at high stocking rate and high temperature on skatole concentration in subcutaneous fat (boar taint). Proceedings of the forty-fourth meeting of the European Association for Animal Production, Commission on Pig Production, session II. Meat production with entire males, vol. II, pp. 350–351 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Lundström, K. and Malmfors, B. 1993. Genetic influence on skatole deposition in entire male pigs. In Measurement and prevention of boar taint in entire male pigs (ed. Bonneau, M.), pp. 159–165. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris.Google Scholar
Lundström, K., Malmfors, B., Malmfors, G. and Stern, S. 1987. Meat quality in boars and gilts after immediate slaughter or lairage for two hours. Swedish journal of Agricultural Research 17: 51–56.Google Scholar
Maribo, H. and Sandersen, B. 1992. [Why do some entire male pigs have high skatole concentrations?] DS-Nyt No., April, pp. 4–6.Google Scholar
Mortensen, A. B. and Mortensen, H. P. 1990. EAAP. Proceedings of the European Association for Animal Production working group, Spain. Livestock Production Science 26: 319–326.Google Scholar
Mortensen, A. B. and Serensen, S. E. 1984. Relationship between boar taint and skatole determined with a new analysis method. Proceedings of the thirtieth European meeting of meat research workers, Bristol, pp. 394–396.Google Scholar
Mortensen, H. P. 1990. The influence of breed, energy and protein in the feed on skatole content in female pigs, castrates and entire male pigs. Proceedings of the European Association for Animal Production working group, Spain. Livestock Production Science 26: 319–326.Google Scholar
Mortensen, H. P., Bejerholm, C., Barton, P. and Pedersen, O. K. 1989. [The influence of breed, energy and protein in the feed on skatole content in female pigs, castrates and entire male pigs.] Arbejde no. 38.124 — SF-Rapport (22. februar 1989, svin — kodkvalitet). Danish Meat Research Institute.Google Scholar
Mortensen, H. P. and Madsen, A. 1990. [Skatole concentration in male pigs fed with malt and yeast of different varieties.] Work no. 01.708 — Report (28. december, Male pig production). Danish Meat Research Institute.Google Scholar
Nonboe, U. 1990. Conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and development of boar taint — some aspects. Proceedings of the European Association for Animal Production working group, Spain. Livestock Production Science 26: 319–326.Google Scholar
Nonboe, U. 1991. [Biological mechanisms behind skatole concentration in backfat.] DJVB/KVL No. 1997–497.Google Scholar
Pedersen, J. K. and Mortensen, A. B. 1987. Relationship between skatole concentration in backfat of gilts and entire male pigs from the same herds. Proceedings of European meeting of meat research workers, Helsinki.Google Scholar
Pedersen, J. K., Mortensen, A. B., Madsen, A., Mortensen, H. P. and Hyldgaard-Jensen, J. 1986. [Influence of skatole concentration in feed on skatole concentration in backfat.] Statens Husdyrbrugsforsog [NlAS], meddelelse no. 636.Google Scholar
Porter, M. G., Hawe, S. M. and Walker, N. 1989. Method for the determination of indole and skatole in pig fat. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 49: 203–209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1985, 86, 87. SAS users' guide. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Spoelstra, S. F. 1977. Simple phenols and indoles in anaerobically stored piggery wastes. journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 28: 415–423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Udesen, F. K. 1988. [Production of entire male pigs.] Meddelelse 139, Landsudvalget for svin. Danske Slagtcrier, pp. 1–9.Google Scholar
Udesen, F. K. 1992. [Entire male pig production with low proportion of pigs sorted out.] Kongrcs for svincproducenter 20–21. oktober, Herning, 31–131–4.Google Scholar
Vesell, E. S., Lang, C. M., White, W. J., Passananti, G. T. and Tripp, S. L., 1973. Hepatic drug metabolism in rats: impairment in a dirty environment. Science, New York 179: 896–897.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walstra, P. 1974. Fattening of young boars. Quantification of negative and positive aspects. Livestock Production Science 1: 187–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar