May 2, 2008

Dutch research doubts pig castration for boar taint
 

Castration of male pigs is unnecessary as consumers do not recognise bacon with boar taint, according to a research by the Netherlands' Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR). 
 

The research said a maximum of several percent of meat from non-castrated male pigs matches the definition of boar taint, with the previous assumption that the percentage is between 5-25 percent.

The research also said that consumers do not recognise bacon with boar taint, therefore not valuing the meat less than conventional pork. A Swiss research returned similar results.

In the Netherlands, male piglets have to be anaesthetised before castration as of next year, but the Dutch authorities along with supermarkets and industry organisations are aiming to ban piglet castration by 2015.

"Boar taint is hereditary, so if we will apply specific breeding, we can lower the amount of components that cause boar taint. Whatever is left over, can be detected in the slaughterhouse," said researcher Ge Backus.

Westfort slaughterhouse in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, sometimes handles uncastrated pigs. Westfort said it finds an average 2-4 percent boar taint at the slaughterline and that the taint occurs more when the average weight is higher than 100 kg.

However, the average age of slaughter has decreased, leading to a fall of the number of pigs with boar taint.