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Research article2005Peer reviewed

Effect of live weight and dietary supplement of raw potato starch on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in entire male pigs

Zamaratskaia Galia, Babol Jakub, Andersson Kristina, Andersson Kjell, Lundström Kerstin

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of supplement of raw potato starch (RPS) on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in plasma from entire male pigs. The study also evaluated relationships between plasma levels of skatole and testicular steroids at three different live weights (LW) of approximately 90, 100 and 115 kg. A total of 111 entire male pigs of a crossbred (Yorkshire dams×Swedish Landrace sires) were used. Animals were raised either in mixed pens, with females and males, or single-sex pens. Each pen contained seven or nine pigs. The most fast-growing three pigs from the pens with nine pigs were slaughtered when they reached 90 kg LW, and the remaining pigs were slaughtered at 115 kg LW. All pigs were fed the same commercial diet until the average pen weight reached 100 kg. Then, 33 out of 80 remaining pigs received RPS, 0.6 kg per pig and day, for 2 weeks prior to slaughter. Blood samples were taken from the pigs at three occasions: first, the day prior to first slaughter occasion, low-weight group; second, the day prior to change in diet, middle-weight group; and third, the day prior to second slaughter occasion, high-weight group. Plasma was analysed for the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate. Fat samples were taken at slaughter and analysed for the levels of skatole and androstenone. The levels of skatole and testicular steroids in plasma were significantly higher in entire male pigs from the high-weight group fed no RPS compared to those from low- and middle-weight groups. The levels of the investigated compounds did not differ between low- and middle-weight groups (P>0.1). The diet with RPS induced a decline in skatole levels in plasma and fat (P<0.001), but not plasma levels of testicular steroids and fat levels of androstenone (P>0.05). Skatole levels were positively correlated to testosterone and oestrone sulphate levels in the middle- and high-weight pigs fed no RPS as well as to testosterone in the low-weight group. In the high-weight group fed RPS, skatole levels were not correlated to any of the analysed compounds. Approximately 26% of the entire male pigs (11 out of 43) from the high-weight group fed no RPS produced skatole levels in fat above 0.20 μg/g, whereas the pigs from the low- and high-weight group fed RPS did not produce skatole levels above 0.20 μg/g in fat. Androstenone levels in fat were high in all groups. In total 47% (52 out of 111) pigs expressed androstenone levels above the rejection levels in fat of 1.0 μg/g and 88% (98 out of 111) had androstenone levels above 0.5 μg/g. It was concluded that a lower slaughter weight and the supplement of raw potato starch to the diet could be used to reduce skatole levels in entire male pigs. Androstenone levels in fat, however, could not be reduced by either a lower weight at slaughter or dietary manipulation

Keywords

Entire male pigs; Raw potato starch; Skatole; Testicular steroids

Published in

Livestock Production Science
2005, Volume: 93, pages: 235-243