Influence of Caponization on the Carcass Characteristics in Taiwan Country Chicken Cockerels

Abstract

We determined the effect of caponization on the carcass and giblet characteristics, and skin and muscle color in Taiwan country chicken cockerels. Caponized birds were surgically altered at 10 weeks old and were fed growing and finishing diets ad libitum during an eighteen-week experimental period. The results showed that the percentage of dressing, heart, feet, thigh, head and neck were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the intact birds, while the capons had a higher (p<0.05) percentage of abdominal fat, intestine, back, wing and breast. Eviscerated weight, breast width, gizzard, liver and spleen ratios were not affected by the treatments. The breast skin color values for lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values in the capons were significantly (p<0.05) higher than in the intact birds, but the thigh and back skin were not significantly(p>0.05)different. Compared with the intact birds, the capons had a significantly (p<0.05) less redness (a*) values in the back skin, but were not significantly (p>0.05) different in the breast and thigh skin. The L* value of the thigh muscle was significantly (p<0.05) greater in the capons than in the intact birds, but were not significantly (p>0.05) different in breast and back muscles. The b* values in the breast, back and thigh muscles of the capons were significantly (p<0.05) greater whereas the intact birds had a higher (p<0.05) a* values in the breast, back, and thigh muscles. Moreover, our findings also indicate that the castration resulted in a significant alteration in dressing percentage, carcass region and organ percentage.

Effects of caponization on growth, carcass, and meat characteristics and the mRNA expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in roosters of a Chinese indigenous breed

“…We found that the caponized birds had heavier live weight at 140 days of age; this is in agreement with the results of Lin and Hsu (2003), who reported that Taiwanese male chickens caponized at 10 weeks of age had heavier live weight at 28 weeks of age than intact birds of the same age. In contrast, Miguel et al (2008) in their study on Castellana Negra chicken found that the body weight of castrated and uncastrated birds did not differ at 29 weeks; this result was supported by Symeon et al (2012) in their study on Lohmann chicken.…”

“…We found an increase in the percent weight of the breast muscle in the caponized birds, which is in agreement with another report (Lin and Hsu 2003). The significantly heavier breast muscle weight observed could be attributed to longer keel length, as keel length has been reported to be significantly positively correlated with the weight of breast muscle (Johnson and Asmundson 1957).…”

“…It h a s b e e n re p o r te d th at c ap o n i z at i o n significantly increased abdominal fat weight (Lin and Hsu 2003;Chen et al 2005;Shao et al 2009). Statistical evidence for this increase was found in the present study.…”

“…Reportedly caponization significantly increased abdominal fat weight (Lin and Hsu 2003;Shao et al 2009;Chen et al 2014) and intramuscular fat in roosters (Tor et al 2002;Symeon et al 2010). However, the mechanism by which caponization affects lipogenesis remains unclear.…”

Evaluation of Caponization on Growth and Meat Quality Parameters of Dual-Purpose Chicken

“…Such practice is believed to divert the energy expenditure mechanism of the chicken from sexual and reproductive physiology and behaviour to enhance secondary male characters like comb, wattle and fighting . In addition, such diversion mechanism of the nutrients enhance deposition of fat thereby facilitating the tenderness of the meat and ultimately improving the flavour, texture and juiciness of meat (Lin and Hsu, 2003;Kwiecień et al, Research Article 2015). Likewise, the hormonal changes afterwards has been found responsible for the induction of growth hormone secretion and promotion of mineral profile in the European chicken (Ford and Klindt, 1989).…”