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The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of reducing the amount of androstenone and skatole in fat tissues of intact males using genetic markers. Fat samples were collected via biopsies or at the slaughter plant on a total of 3,474 boars. These animals were also genotyped for 97 SNP markers located in 40 candidate genes, from which 61, 80 and 83 genotyped SNPs were polymorphic in Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire pigs, respectively. A two‐step analysis was performed to examine the association of SNPs with measured androstenone and skatole levels.
The number of unfavourable SNP alleles was significantly associated with levels of androstenone in Duroc and with levels of skatole in Landrace. The percentage of animals with androstenone levels above the consumer acceptance threshold was 76% for boars with 15 or more unfavourable alleles and only 20% for boars with 10 unfavourable alleles.
The current results offer a promising application with regard to using SNP markers to reduce boar taint risk in Canadian pigs.
L. Maignel, M.Jafarikia, J. Squires, F. Schenkel, S. Wyss, F. Fortin, W. Van Berkel, R. De Wolde, B. Sullivan. Use of genetic markers to reduce boar taint in Canadian pigs. 47e Journées de la Recherche Porcine.
