Rearing entire male pigs is of great interest in organic farming to improve animal welfare conditions (castration no longer required). But this raises questions about breeding practices, the expected rate of odorant (boar-tainted) males, and the use of carcasses from non-castrated males (NCM). There is a risk of boar-tainted pork in case of high androstenone and skatole concentrations. Results from an observatory set up on six farms have shown that it would be possible to contain the risk of boar-tainted males’ carcasses to a few percent. This work also provided recommendations for breeders. Experiments carried out at the Porganic experimental farm confirmed the positive effect of dietary fibers on the decrease in pork (backfat) skatole content and highlighted the favorable effects of the feeding strategy on other pork quality properties. Finally, sensory tests on various pork products have confirmed the benefits of diluting pork at risk for boar taint with pork from female pigs to use the meat from NCM in organic farming.
