The Consumer Decides
Americans do not like the taste of boar meat. Once the boar starts to musk and show interest in females, he produces varying amounts of skatol and androstanedione. These substances impart a fecal odor to boar meat. Whether or when a boar will produce these substances varies greatly and the Danes determine which carcasses are eligible for human consumption based on a ranking of the two substances in the meat. Americans mainly eat gilts and barrows.
Answers to the other questions:
Q While Boars have the fastest
growth rate and the leanest carcasses, they also have the
Q While barrows have the most
feed intake, they have the
Q If you thought you wanted
to even out the feed intake and carcass leaness results, you may be pleased
to see more gilts in your herd. Unfortunately, gilts have the
Copyright ©1997 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary
Medicine
Faculty: Dr. Paul Pitcher
Student: Sandra Springer,'99