Chicory root (pig castration

Last update: 2 June 2023

• Action: Reducing boar taint risk of pig meat from entire males, thus making chirurgical castration unnecessary.
• Animal category: Fattening pigs.
• Technique: Addition of chicory root up to 15% in the pig diet the last four days before slaughter.
• Mode of action: Boar taint is an off-flavour of pork caused primarily by a microbial breakdown product, skatole and a testicular steroid, androstenone; as skatole is produced in the large intestine from tryptophan, inulin contained in chicory roots, modifies protein fermentation and incidentally boar taint.
• Potential efficacy: Reduction of skatole and thereby reduction of boar taint.
• Nature of evidence of efficacy: Peer-reviewed scientific publications; studies by Technical Institutes.
• Factors impacting on efficacy: Additive effects with low-protein, grain-based feed.
• Mode of use: Complete feed formulation.
• Requirements/limitations: None.
• Economic consequences: Diets containing chicory roots are more expensive and extra-costs may not be fully compensated by the higher growth rate of entire male vs. castrated animals (+/-1.5 €/pig from Maribo et al.).
• Other considerations: Keeping male entire may improve feed conversion rate (up to 0.28 kg less feed to produce 1 kg meat).
• References:
  • Jensen et al. (2006). Prevention of boar taint in pig production. Factors affecting the level of skatole. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 48(1): S6. doi:10.1186/1751-0147-48-S1-S6
  • Hansen et al. (2006). Influence of chicory roots (Cichorium intybus L) on boar taint in entire male and female pigs. Animal Science, 82(3), 359-368. https://doi.org/10.1079/ASC200648
  • Byrne et al. (2008). A sensory description of boar taint and the effects of crude and dried chicory roots (Cichorium intybus L.) and inulin feeding in male and female pork. Meat Science, 79(2), 252- 269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2007.09.009
  • Zammerini et al. (2012). Effect of dietary chicory on boar taint. Meat Science, 91(4), 396-401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.01.020
  • Maribo et al. (2015). Fibre reducerer skatol I hangrise. Meddelelse Nr. 1055.
  • EFSA (2022). Welfare of pigs on farm. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7421
• Other techniques: Feed with adjusted amino acid profiles; special diet within 4 to 14 days before slaughter (low-protein, grain-based diet; Jerusalem artichoke, beet pulp and palm cake).