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Glandular Development, Hormonal Response and Boar Odor and Flavor Intensity of Untreated and Diethylstilbestrol-Implanted Boars¹

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster and The Ohio State University, Columbus

Abstract

The relationship between the intensity of boar odor and flavor and the development of the adrenal, thyroid, pituitary, testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, prostate, Cowper's and thymus glands, and to plasma androgen and estrogen activity was determined in normal and diethylstilbestrol (DES) implanted boars.

Implantation of 96 mg. DES at a liveweight of 70.3 kg. significantly (P<.01) reduced organoleptic odor and flavor scores to a liveweight of 127.0 kilograms. Average daily gain was significantly (P<.01) increased by DES until a slaughter weight of 104.3 kilograms. Diethylstilbestrol also decreased (P<.05) weight of the prostate gland and increased (P<.05) adrenal gland weight. A nonsignificant reduction in plasma androgen activity, weight of testes, seminal vesicles, Cowper's and thymus gland, and an increase in weight of the epididymides and pituitary gland followed DES implantation.

The parallel nature of boar odor and flavor was evident by the correlation (P<.01) of the two separate measurements.

In lighter weight boars (31.4 to 110.0 kg.), odor was correlated (P<.01) with bodyweight, age and weight of pituitary, thyroid, testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, prostate and Cowper's glands and (P<.05) with adrenal gland weight. Boar flavor was related to weight of adrenal, thyroid and prostate glands (P<.01) and age (P<.05).

Boar odor intensity in unimplanted boars, ranging from 70.3 to 127.0 kg. liveweight, was positively correlated (P<.01) with plasma androgen activity and androgen: estrogen ratio. In DES implanted boars of the same weight, flavor was related (P<.05) to weight of seminal vesicles. When data were combined without regard to treatment, plasma androgen activity was associated with both odor (P<.01) and flavor (P<.05), and boar flavor became correlated (P<.05) with weight of testes and Cowper's glands. The development of boar odor and flavor was influenced by, or at least correlated with, sexual maturation commensurate with age.

¹ Approved for publication as Journal Article No. 82-68 by the Associate Director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

² The consultation of Dr. W. R. Gomes in the hormonal assays is gratefully acknowledged.

³ The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of C. R. Weaver, Center Statistician, in the analysis of data.