Norwegian study finds some genes responsible for boar taint

Several genes are important in the regulation of androstenone level in boars, one of the compounds responsible for causing unpleasant taints in meat from entire boars, according to research from NORSVIN, the Norwegian Pig Breeders Association.

The researchers explain that boar taint is an unpleasant odour and flavour of the meat and occurs in a high proportion of uncastrated male pigs. Androstenone, a steroid produced in testis and acting as a sex pheromone regulating reproductive function in female pigs, is one of the main compounds responsible for boar taint. The aim of the researc was to determine the differential gene expression of selected candidate genes related to levels of androstenone in pigs.

Altogether, 2,560 boars from the Norwegian Landrace and Duroc populations were included in this study. Testicle samples from the 192 boars with most extreme high or low levels of androstenone in fat were used for RNA extraction, and 15 candidate genes were selected and analysed by real-competitive PCR analysis.

Researchers said that the current study contributes to the knowledge about which genes that is differentially expressed regard to the levels of androstenone in pigs.

They conclude that results suggest that several genes are important in the regulation of androstenone level in boars and warrant further evaluation of the candidate genes, including analyses in different breeds, identification of causal mutations and possible gene interactions.