Genetic Correlations between Boar Taint Compound Concentrations in Fat of Purebred Boars and Production and Ham Quality Traits in Crossbred Heavy Pigs

Selecting pigs with reduced ability to accumulate boar taint (BT) compounds in their tissues is an alternative to male surgical castration. As the majority of slaughter pigs are crossbred, before selecting against BT in purebreds, it is essential to consider possible impacts on commercial traits in crossbreds. This study estimated the genetic correlations between BT compound levels measured in 1115 purebred pigs and carcass and ham quality traits collected in 26,577 crossbred Italian heavy pigs. Genetic correlations were estimated in bivariate Bayesian analyses including one BT trait and one production or ham quality trait at a time. Heritability of androstenone, skatole, and indole was 0.41, 0.49, and 0.37, respectively. A moderate negative correlation between skatole and carcass yield (−0.40), and between all BT compounds and backfat (from −0.26 to −0.55) was observed. Conversely, positive correlations (from 0.11 to 0.54) were found between skatole and ham fat thickness traits. Correlations between BT compounds and iodine number ranged from −0.07 (for androstenone) to −0.64 (for skatole), whereas those with PUFA ranged from −0.13 (for indole) to −0.33 (for skatole). Hence, reducing BT could decrease ham fat thickness and increase unsaturated fatty acids, with potential negative impacts on product quality.