These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed


  • Title: The MC4R c.893G>A mutation: a marker for growth and leanness associated with boar taint odour in Belgian pig breeds.
    Author: Schroyen M, Janssens S, Stinckens A, Brebels M, Bertolini F, Lamberigts C, Bekaert K, Vanhaecke L, Aluwé M, Tuyttens FA, Millet S, Buys N.
    Journal: Meat Sci; 2015 Mar; 101():1-4. PubMed ID: 25462375.
    Abstract:
    Since surgical castration of male piglets without anaesthesia is under heavy societal pressure, finding a sustainable solution to reduce boar taint has become urgent. One way to circumvent this animal welfare violation is raising entire male pigs whilst selecting against the tainted phenotype through marker-assisted selection. Since slaughtering at a lower weight is often suggested to reduce boar taint, selection using a marker for that trait could be a promising strategy. Therefore, in this study a melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) mutation, frequently described in different pig breeds as marker for fat content, weight gain and feed intake, was examined in relation to boar taint in pig breeds used in Belgian pig farms. Although results suggest an association between this mutation and a boar taint odour score assigned by experts, no association was found between the mutation and the concentration of the individual chemical boar taint components androstenone, skatole and indole.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]