FiBL conducted a field test in 2012 and 2013 on group combination in boar fattening. The following combinations were compared in a field trial under organic conditions:
Over the course of the fattening process, the researchers observed aggressive behaviour and injuries. At the slaughterhouse, boars that seemed tainted were identified, and sows were examined for pregnancies. During the fattening period, the boars displayed a more aggressive behaviour than the barrows. There were, however, no differences detected between the two groups with boars, which means that it did not matter if they were by themselves or paired with sows. More skin injuries occurred in the boars group, though. Only one of the 187 slaughtered boars were classified as having taint by a sensory analysis. Levels of androstenone and skatole were relatively low compared to the corresponding literature. The reason for this could be the genetics used for this trial. No pregnancies were detected. Dressed weight on average: 92 kilograms.
As a recommendation for practitioners, it is safe to say that a mixed-sex fattening under organic conditions is possible up to this weight and even might bring some advantageous in terms of injuries, compared to housing all-boar groups. However, single-sex groups have the advantage of specific feeding, making it easier to use the growth potential of the boars fully. Within the framework of the project, a technical guide on the topic of boar fattening was created, which offers recommendations for the housing, breeding and feeding of boars as well processing and marketing of boar meat. The technical guide is available online in the FiBL Shop.
"Vier Pfoten - Stiftung für Tierschutz" financed the project "FairPig - pig fattening without castration".
In cooperation with the organic brand "ja! Natürlich", a representative tasting session of tainted samples of sausage and ham was held and it was found that even odour-sensitive people did not show any signs of sensitivity towards tainted boar meat with most methods of preparation.
