Investigation on the exemplary implementation of a sustainable production of entire males under organic production procedures along the production, the slaughtering, the processing and the marketing chain

The acceptance of piglet castration is declining. Therefore, boar fattening could be an alternative. But the problems of boar taint are still not finally resolved.

Background and Objective

Entire male pig fattening or boar fattening is related with the occurrence of boar taint which smells of urine and sweat for sensitive persons. The main components are androstenone and skatole. Castration is the best way to avoid boar taint. The absence of testis prevents from androstenone synthesis and promotes skatole reduction in the liver. But castration – even under anaesthesia and analgesia – increasingly forfeits its social acceptance, and castration without anesthesia will be banned in January 2019.

The aim of the project is to promote a risk-minimized organic boar fattening by producing recommendations for producers how to minimize the rate of carcasses with boar taint.

Approach

The whole project, which is a national joint project funded by BÖLN and with the project partners Giessen University, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, University of Göttingen and Thünen Institute of Organic Farming, is conducted in three stages.

The following aspects have been and still are the responsibility of Thünen Institute of Organic Farming:

In stage 1, the effect of two different genotypes and a supplementary feed component in the final fattening period on animal performance and occurence of boar taint was tested.

In stage 2, the effect of the source of roughage was tested in an experiment with only one genotype, but two types pf roughage.

In the currently ongoing stage 3, the potential of a novel vaccination scheme against boar taint is being evaluated under the circumstances of organic pig husbandry.

Data and Methods

In phase 1 (2012-2015) , a total of 280 entire male fattening pigs differing in the genotype of their fathers (Piétrain vs. Duroc) were either fed a normal compound feed or received an additional 10 % raw potato starch during the final fattening period (> 95 kg live weight). Dat collection included fattening and slaughter performance, meat quality and the occurence of boar taint.

In phase 2 (2016-2018), a total of 144 entire male fattening pigs of the same genotype received either grass clover silage or straw as their mandatory roughage. The research question was if the type of roughage would influence the occurence of boar taint.

In stage 3 (starting May 2018), a novel vaccination scheme againt boar taint is being compared with a standard vaccination scheme with regard to their effect on the success of castration and the occurence of boar taint.

Preliminary Results

In the first stage of the project, feeding 10 % raw potato starch resulted in lower skatole levels in entire males with Piétrain fathers.

The second stage of the project found no significant effect of the type of roughage on the occurence of boar taint.

Therefore the search for a practicable and safe production system for fattening entire males is going on, in order to find an alternative to castration without anesthesia.

Links and Downloads

www.ktbl.de/inhalte/service/tagungsergebnisse-2014/ebermast/

Thünen-Contact

• Bussemas, Ralf Institute of Organic Farming

Involved Thünen-Partners

• Baldinger, Lisa Institute of Organic Farming
• Bussemas, Ralf Institute of Organic Farming
• Büttner, Sinje Institute of Organic Farming
• Heidbüchel, Katharina Institute of Organic Farming

Involved external Thünen-Partners

• Universität Göttingen
  (Göttingen, Deutschland)
• Hochschule Anhalt
  (Bernburg, Deutschland)
• Universität Gießen
  (Gießen, Deutschland)

Funding Body

• Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)
  (national, öffentlich)

Duration

9.2012 - 3.2020

More Information

Projekt type:
Project funding number: 2811OE144
Funding program: Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau und andere Formen nachhaltiger Landwirtschaft (BÖLN)
Project status: ongoing

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