Abstract
This study examined the caponization effects on the muscle characteristics (quality and quantity) of caponized male chickens fed before or after sexual maturity. Healthy and uniform Single Comb White Leghorn chickens were caponized at 3-week-old. Feeding was conducted until 16-week-old in trial 1 or from 12-week-old to 26-week-old in trial 2. Ten sham operated male chickens (Sham) were also assigned to each trial as the control group. Chickens used in both trials were housed in individual cages with each chicken representing one replicate. The results showed that early caponization (3-week-old) significantly increased (p<0.05) body weight and pectoral major muscle weight and percentage at 16-week-old compared to the Sham in trial 1. Caponization significantly increased (p<0.05) the protein content of the pectoral major muscle, but decreased (p<0.05) the ash content. Late caponization (12-week-old) significantly decreased (p<0.05) the ash content, myofibrillar ATPase activity and emulsification capacity of the pectoral major muscle in mature capons (26-week-old) compared to the Sham in trial 2. Early caponization (3-week-old) only increased the weight and protein content of the pectoral major muscle with decreased ash content in 16-week-old capons. Late caponization (12-week-old) showed no affects on pectoral major muscle quantity, while it decreased the ATPase activity and enhanced the emulsification capacity in mature (26-week-old) capons. Hence, the muscle quality improvement was shown as capons were fed to sexual maturity.
Highlights
Capons are male chickens whose testes have been surgically removed
The purpose of this study is to investigate the caponization effects on muscle quality and quantity before and after sexual maturity in male chicken caponized at different ages
Male chickens were restrained and the incision site was sterilized with iodine-alcohol
Summary
Capons are male chickens whose testes have been surgically removed. Because of the resultant androgen deficiency, secondary male sexual characters including the comb, wattle, fighting behavior and vocalization degenerate and maturity regress to an immature stage. Lipids begin to accumulate in the body, enhancing flavor, texture and meat juiciness compared with that of intact cockerels (Chen et al, 2000a, b; Chen et al, 2005). In the past the capon was popular in Asia, with capon consumption at about 4,300,000 every year in Taiwan (Deng and Wang, 2000). In addition to its close association with reproduction, androgen induces growth hormone secretion, promotes growth, development, and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium retention, and enhances muscle and bone growth in mammals (Ford and Klindt, 1989). Caponization, decreases muscle mass; increases meat tenderness
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