Use of masking strategies to avoid the boar taint perception in chorizo: consumers' acceptability.

The production of entire male pigs is an alternative to surgical castration. However, boar taint may be present in the meat of entire male animals. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the acceptability and sensory properties of chorizo, elaborated under three different levels of androstenone [castrated 0-0.3 mg / kg, medium 0.4-0.9 mg / kg and high 1-2.75 mg / kg] and two masking strategies [rosemary, and rosemary plus smoking] using a Check-All-That-Apply questionnaire. The results showed that, of the strategies employed, the rosemary plus smoked chorizo was the most effective masking strategy to reduce the boar taint in chorizos with high androstenone level (3.7% selection rate for animal flavour), while the closest to the ideal product, according to consumers' description, was high androstenone level plus rosemary chorizo.

Rustic Chato Murciano pig breed: Effect of the weight on carcass and meat quality.

Carcass and meat quality parameters of two different weights of pigs from the rustic breed Chato Murciano (Murcia Region, south-eastern Spain) were studied: light weight (LW, 147.98 ±â€¯3.78 kg live weight) and heavy weight (HW, 176.07 ±â€¯4.78 kg live weight). No weight-dependent effects were observed on carcass quality (carcass yield, length, back fat thickness) or on moisture, pH, and the L* and a* coordinates. The HW group had a higher fat content and cholesterol values than the LW group. None of the fatty acids analysed in the respective meats showed differences between groups (P > .05), except C16:0, C18:2 and C18:3. The HW group had higher values for unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and the n6/n3 index than LW, and lower values for saturated fat and the Saturated/Polyunsaturated fat ratio and a lower Atherogenesis Index. In conclusion, meat and fat quality are influenced by the final live weight of Chato Murciano pigs.