Publication Date: January 23, 2012
Reference: livestockwelfare.com Research Watch 2012
Country: Canada
Summary:
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Typically pigs are castrated after weaning to avoid a boar taint in the meat which lowers the meat quality. Boars are known to produce leaner caresses and be more efficient users of feed than barrows, but are not raised because of the boar taint. Androstenone and skatole are the two main compounds that cause boar taint. It was found that breeding to reduce boar taint has had some success.