Acta Vet. Brno 2023, 92: 181-187

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb202392020181

Boar taint through the eyes of genetics: A comparison of the Czech indigenous pig breed and commercial breeds in four gene polymorphisms related to skatole and androstenone levels

Lenka Falk1,2, Irena Vrtková2, Petra Bartoňová2

1Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Biology, Laboratory of biological and molecular anthropology, Brno, Czech Republic
2Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Agrisciences, Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Laboratory of Agrogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic

Received September 30, 2022
Accepted May 4, 2023

The problem of boar taint has recently become a frequent topic due to the ban on surgical castration of piglets without anaesthesia. Genetic selection based on markers that affect the molecular synthesis and degradation of the two main compounds of boar taint - androstenone and skatole - appears to be one of the possibilities. Many genes and their expression profiles associated with androstenone and skatole levels are known, and studies usually analyse them in hybrids. Our study focused on pure pig breeds and their comparison in the genotypes of the CYP2E1, TEAD3, HSD3B, and CYB5A genes. We examined four common commercial breeds (Large White, Landrace, Pietrain, Duroc) and compared them with the original Czech autochthonous Přeštice Black Pied breed, which is also classified as a gene source, with the breed being highlighted for its meat quality. Our research shows that there are differences between purebred individuals. Due to breeding programs, genotyping of breeding boars and sows is not only possible but also relevant.

Funding

This research was supported by the project QK1910400 of NAZV.

References

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