The effects of castration on the growth parameters, carcass yield and meat chemical composition of intensively reared Common Pheasant(Phasianus colchicus colchicus L.)

Abstract

Barić-Rafaj (2007) The effects of castration on the growth parameters, carcass yield and meat chemical composition of intensively reared Common Pheasant (PhasianuscolchicuscolchicusL.

Growth rate of body weight and measurements in pheasants reared up to the 24th week of life (Short Communication)

“…Discussion KJAER (1997), investigating the effect of the intensity of light on the pheasant growth up to the 6th week of life, recorded about 11 to 17 g lower bird body weight in the 3rd week of rearing as compared with the results reported in the present research. The results of the present research (Table 1) show that 8-and 12-week old birds were heavier than those reported by other authors (MAZURKIEWICZ et al 1991, TORGOWSKI and POTKAŃSKI 1994, SEVERIN et al 2007. SAGE et al (2002) applying high-protein diet in pheasants from the 6th to the 16th or from the 6th to the 10th week of rearing, found in the latter a slightly lower body weight in 16-week-old males and similar in females, as compared with the present research.…”

“…Similarly as in the present research, significant sexual dimorphism in the body weight in the 8th, 12th and 16th week of life in pheasants was reported by NOWACZEWSKI et al (1999), as well as SAGE et al (2002) in 16-week-old birds. In the experiments by SEVERIN et al (2006SEVERIN et al ( , 2007 cocks at the same age were heavier; 1 512 g (20th week) and 1 485-1 540 g (24th week), as compared with the present results.…”

“…As seen from Figure, slowed-down growth rate of the body weight in pheasants after the 16th week of life is also confirmed by SEVERIN et al (2007).…”

Blood lipids and fatty acid composition of abdominal fat in castrated and intact male common pheasant(Colchicus colchicus)

“…The castration was performed as described by Severin et al (2007). The absence of testicular regeneration in the castrated pheasants was determined on live birds by visual assessment and confirmed later after slaughtering.…”

“…Nevertheless, only few publications investigated that influence in pheasants (Nagra et al, 1965;Sarra et al, 1985;Severin et al, 2007). We have therefore attempted to establish the influence of castration on plasma lipids and lipoproteins and additionally on the fatty acid profile of abdominal fat in this species.…”