RESUMO
The study aims at developing a rapid and robust mass spectrometric method capable of measuring the malodorous boar taint compounds androstenone and skatole in fat samples from male pig carcasses. The developed method is suited for use in commercial abattoirs as an at-line method to detect the presence of these compounds in carcasses or as a high-speed analysis in laboratories with high sample turnover. The chemical assay is based on salt-assisted liquid-liquid extraction and direct measurement with Laser Diode Thermal Desorption-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LDTD-MS/MS). When fully automated as an at-line method, a single LDTD-MS/MS system will have a measuring capacity of >420 male pig carcasses per hour. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.05 µg/g and 0.10 µg/g for skatole and androstenone, respectively, which is well below the expected sorting thresholds. The reproducibility of the method (%RSD) meets the industry requirement for an RSD of below 10%.
RESUMO
Meat from male pigs may develop an off-flavour, commonly known as boar taint. Castration of male piglets prevents the potential formation of off-flavour. In the suggested method, three marker compounds for boar taint (skatole, androstenone and indole) are quantified in pork fat by isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or by isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This method was validated by collaborative trial according to ISO 5725-2:1994. The studied concentration ranges included sensorial thresholds. The repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) ranges from 3% to 10% and the reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) from 10% to about 30%. The method has proven to be robust and free from matrix interferences. The method performance characteristics are compliant with requirements for official control methods in the area of food contaminants; therefore, the method is regarded as fit for its intended purpose.
RESUMO
In order to assess chronic stress in entire and castrated male pigs and to describe effects of a provision of grass silage in those pigs, a 2â¯×â¯2â¯×â¯2 factorial experiment comprising the factors castration, chronic intermittent social stress and provision of grass silage was carried out with 147 growing-finishing pigs from 25.6 to 102.1â¯kg body weight. The experimental design allowed investigating interactions between the three factors, but only few were statistically significant. Stress exposure consisted of repeated short-term confrontations with unfamiliar pigs and short-term separations. Carcasses of stress-exposed pigs had thicker backfat, lower lean meat percentage and a different fatty acids composition of the adipose tissue. While entire males differed strongly from castrates in performance, carcass characteristics and adipose tissue properties, we found no evidence for an increased level of chronic stress in entire males compared to castrates. Provision of grass silage increased stomach weight and reduced dressing percentage, but did not impair performance, adipose tissue properties or meat quality.
Assuntos
Tecido Adiposo/metabolismo , Peso Corporal , Carne/análise , Orquiectomia , Poaceae , Silagem , Estresse Psicológico , Androstenos/metabolismo , Animais , Composição Corporal , Ácidos Graxos/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Músculos/metabolismo , Escatol/metabolismo , Estômago , SuínosRESUMO
The presence of boar taint can affect the sensory quality of pork because the "off" odours and flavours can be detected by consumers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of boar taint in pig carcasses from 30 Spanish farms located in different regions of the country. Hot carcass weight and subcutaneous fat thickness means were 79.4±8.19 kg and 18.4±5.09 mm, respectively. Subcutaneous fat samples were classified into different levels according to androstenone and skatole concentrations in adipose tissue measured using GC-MS and HPLC. Androstenone results were: 87.4% of the carcasses below 0.50 µg/g, 7.1% from 0.50 to 1.00 µg/g (medium level), and 5.5% ≥1.00 µg/g (high level). Skatole results were: 88.9% of the carcasses below 0.10 µg/g, 4.5% from 0.10 to 0.20 µg/g (medium level), and 6.6% ≥0.20 µg/g (high level). Given these results, a future online method to classify carcasses according to boar taint is strongly recommended.