Genetic Control of Skatole in Intact Boars is Dependent on the Actual Androstenone Level

Abstract Text: Boar taint is largely determined by androstenone and skatole. It is known physiologically that clearance of skatole depends on the level of androstenone. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of skatole in relation to the level of androstenone. Heritability of skatole ranged from 25.7% at a level of androstenone below 0.22 μg/g to 64.3% at levels of androstenone above 1.0 μg/g, when analyzed with a random regression model. Genetic correlation between skatole at high and low levels of androstenone deviated from one. Validation showed that the difference in skatole between two groups of crossbred offspring of boars with either high or low EBV for skatole was highest at highest levels of androstenone. Genetic selection for minimal skatole should involve measuring skatole at a sufficiently high level of androstenone and using a random regression model for genetic evaluation.

Keywords: genetics, skatole, androstenone