An Immunological Approach For Prevention Of Boar Odor In Pork

The objective of this study was to inhibit accumulation of the C19-Δ16-steroids responsible for boar odor in pork by actively immunizing young, growing boars with C19-Δ16-steroid-bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugates. Thirty-two boars from eight separate litters were allotted into three different treatment groups. Group 1 consisted of 16 intact boars that were immunized on three occasions at average weights of 30, 55 and 75 kg with a 1:1 mixture of 5,16-androstadien-3β-ol-BSA and 4,16-androstadien-3-one-BSA to block production of C19-Δ16-steroids. Group 2 consisted of eight intact non-immunized boars (untreated controls), while Group 3 consisted of eight barrows castrated at 21 d of age. Immunization reduced (P