Wild boar meat: a sustainable solution for pest control

This problem isn't unique to our region or country. As veterinarian and specialist Ignacio Zeledon explained, "Where there's water, there are pigs." And the truth is, its spread is noticeable worldwide and represents one of the world's most complex environmental and economic challenges.

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is an invasive alien species, listed among the 100 most harmful invasive alien species in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Its impact is extremely serious, leading to changes in soils, vegetation, and fauna, as well as economic consequences associated with crop damage and the spread of diseases, including zoonotic ones.

For example, in the United States   , the wild boar population numbers approximately 6 million individuals, spread across 35 states. Texas alone, the epicenter of this problem in the United States, is home to 2 million animals. The annual damage these boars cause to crops, forests, and livestock is estimated at $2.5 billion.

Argentina faces a similar problem, although unfortunately there are no official or projected population figures for 2025. Nevertheless, this species is considered a serious pest, and its population is growing.

Given the high reproduction rate of this species, controlling its population is extremely difficult. Experts say that to curb population growth, at least 60–70% of the total population must be exterminated annually, which is often impossible to achieve through traditional hunting. Furthermore, it's important to note that this practice is prohibited throughout the country.

From Plague to Opportunity: Promoting the MEAT Industry

Faced with uncontrollable population growth, various strategies are being developed worldwide, such as introducing wild boar into the food chain. In other words, the idea is that turning this pest into an edible resource will not only help reduce its numbers but also provide a readily available source of protein.

Wild boar meat is highly nutritious. it contains 22 g of high biological value (BV) protein per 100 g of meat. It is also low in fat (2.8 g/100 g) and cholesterol—only 45 mg/100 g.

Some specialized ranches in the United States capture wild boars, then raise and fatten them for about six months to remove the rancid flavor and produce red meat comparable to Wagyu. For example, the Broken Arrow Ranch in Texas sells between 1,500 and 1,700 pigs raised this way annually.

Various stakeholders, from chefs to meat suppliers, are promoting this approach. Several initiatives in this direction are underway in Argentina. For example, in Córdoba, authorities are promoting the creation of a "Provincial Wild Boar Roundtable" with the aim of developing the wild boar meat value chain.

HEALTH and trade issues

However, while consumption may seem like a powerful tool, its mass adoption poses significant hurdles, particularly in terms of safety and recycling.

Wild boar meat, an omnivorous animal that feeds on a wide variety of foods (including offal and carrion), is susceptible to bacterial and parasitic contamination. Trichinellosis is a hidden risk that requires mandatory testing.

Additionally, organoleptic characteristics vary; for example, adult males can weigh between 136 and 181 kilograms (300 and 400 pounds), but the meat of older or larger males (over 82 kilograms (180 pounds)) tends to smell rancid due to hormones, leading processors to favor medium-sized animals.

In the Argentine hunting context, the control and transport of meat from the fields to authorized slaughterhouses is also a bottleneck, as transport must ensure hygienic care to ensure the animal remains a safe food source.

At this point, Seledon suggests that eating animals as a management strategy is acceptable, but clarifies: "For eating animals to be possible, they must be hunted. And hunting these animals is one way to combat problem species. The difference lies in how, when, where, and who hunts them. Eating animals is permissible subject to veterinary inspection and testing for trichinosis."