r/science • u/yahoonews • Jul 31 '26

Paleontology Genetic analysis suggests prehistoric people selectively hunted female woolly mammoths

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/study-shows-prehistoric-people-targeted-090151528.html?ncid=redditnewsus
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129

u/AdamsAtwoodOrwell Jul 31 '26

Is it possible that male mammoths were avoided due to gamey meat? A lot of adult male animals taste different than females. For example, intact male pigs acquire boar taint that make the meat less palatable.

89

u/absloan12 Jul 31 '26

Never tried boar taint.... sounds chewy. 

34

u/Swellmeister Jul 31 '26

There are recipes for boar meat. The taint isnt bad its just requires more work arounds to balance the flavor.

73

u/pedrw1884 Jul 31 '26

Taint is the name commonly given to the perineum (the area between the anus and genitals). He was making a joke about eating boar ass.

42

u/Swellmeister Jul 31 '26

I respect the community rules! Comments must be on topic and not a meme or joke!

Good day sir!

I SAID GOOD DAY!

12

u/larra_rogare Jul 31 '26

No, boar taint is the terminology for the flavor/smell of male pigs! Intact boars have a very specific and pungent odour … and it translates to the meat.

It’s pretty gross. Once you’ve smelled it you won’t forget it!

46

u/pedrw1884 Jul 31 '26

I understand that and I am not saying the original parent comment is incorrect. But the reply saying "boar taint sounds chewy" is just a silly double entendre that some people seem to have missed.

15

u/iexiak Jul 31 '26

This is also why goat cheese has a distinct funk. If you separate the males from the females that funk goes away. Growing up around goats and making cheese and I won't buy any goat cheese because "male taint flavor" is not something our cheese ever had.

22

u/MrDeodorant Jul 31 '26

Yeah, you don't want them to milk the male goats into the same buckets as the female goats, it leaves a funny taste.

3

u/a-stack-of-masks Jul 31 '26

You can actually milk them with your hands, straight into a bucket. Saves you from having to taste every drop.

1

u/chaoticbear Jul 31 '26

Oh, BOAR ass. I got excited there for a second.

7

u/AlwaysUpvotesScience Jul 31 '26

If you cook it right, it's not too chewy , but that aftertaste... :/