Feasibility of on/at Line Methods to Determine Boar Taint and Boar Taint Compounds: An Overview

Summary

Classification of carcasses at the slaughter line allows an optimisation of its processing and differentiated payment to producers. Boar taint is a quality characteristic that is evaluated in some
slaughter plants. This odour and flavour is mostly present in entire males and perceived generally
by sensitive consumers as unpleasant. In the present work, the methodologies currently used in
slaughter plants for boar taint classification (colorimetric method and sensory quality control-human
nose) and the methodologies that have the potential to be implemented on/at the slaughter line
(mass spectrometry, Raman and biosensors) have been summarized. Their main characteristics are
presented and an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) has been
carried out. From this, we can conclude that, apart from human nose, the technology that arises
as very promising and available on the market, and that will probably become a substitute for the
colorimetric method, is the tandem between the laser diode thermal desorption ion source and the
mass spectrometry (LDTD-MS/MS) with automation of the sampling and sample pre-treatment,
because it is able to work at the slaughter line, is fast and robust, and measures both androstenone
and skatole.