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

Abstract

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.