Nutritional Influences on Skatole Formation and Skatole Metabolism in the Pig

Skatole is a tryptophan metabolite with fecal odor. Skatole and the testicular steroid androstenone are regarded as the main compounds leading to ‘boar taint,’ a sex-specific odor from pork taken from entire males, as elevated concentrations of both substances may be found in adipose boars tissue. High skatole concentrations in adipose tissue are the result of a complex process, which includes microbial formation in the colon, absorption, metabolism and accretion in fat. Several of these steps leading to high skatole concentrations are influenced by feed components and additives. The present paper discusses the mechanisms by which effective feeding strategies and feed additives exert their influence in the prevention of high skatole concentrations in adipose pig tissue.