Presentation by Jostein Dragset, Senior advisor of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) about the European Partnership on Pig Castration, Brussels 25 February 2011.
Bushifying away the boar taint
For the past two months or so I have had the pleasure of playing around with some pork of shady character, a Weber hot smoking grill and some (hopefully) potent microorganisms. My intention with all this? To make a delicious product out of an ingredient many consider repulsively flawed – … Continue reading
Evaluation of different heating methods for the detection of boar taint by means of the human nose
No automated detection system for boar taint detection is currently available, thus boar taint at the slaughterline can currently only be assessed using the singeing method (olfactory scoring). This study compares several heating methods (microwave, soldering iron and pyropen) and evaluates the effect of habituation, cleaning the soldering iron, singeing … Continue reading
A performance test for boar taint compounds in live boars
Genetically reducing boar taint using low-taint lines is considered the most sustainable and economic long-term alternative to surgical castration of male pigs. Owing to the high heritability of the main boar taint components (androstenone, skatole and indole), breeding is an excellent tool for reducing the number of tainted carcasses. To … Continue reading
France – Castration only cure for boar taint
Around 170 delegates from the pig production chain attended a conference in St Brieuc, France, in early October, on the imminent ban on castration in the European Union. The event, organised by the French Institute for the Pig and Pork Industry (IFIP), gave an overview of this topical issue for … Continue reading
Cooperl Arc Atlantique innovates to increase animal welfare
An increasing number of consumers are worried about animal welfare. They therefore seek out products that originate from companies that work according to the principles of sustainable agriculture. The French study ‘Crédoc Consommation 2009’ revealed that 68% of French consumers are prepared to pay more for environmentally and animal-friendly products. … Continue reading
French cracking their heads over imminent castration ban
Around 170 delegates from the pig production chain attended a conference in St Brieuc, France, in early October, on the imminent ban on castration in the European Union. The event, organised by the French Institute for the Pig and Pork Industry (IFIP), gave an overview of this topical issue for … Continue reading