The effects of castration on carcase and meat characteristics and digestive efficiency of male Rusa (Cervus timorensis) deer

Abstract

Javan rusa (Cervus timorensis russa) stags are usually slaughtered after the age of fifteen months, when animal handling problems and decline in carcase quality may occur. In three trials the effects of castration and age on carcase and meat quality were investigated. Nineteen entire and sixteen castrated male Javan rusa deer were raised on pasture, and slaughtered at the age of 13, 19 or 25 months. Live weight gain was recorded monthly and backfat (ultrasound) every two months. At slaughter, carcasses were electrically stimulated and body components were estimated. After chiller assessments, carcasses were jointed, and separated into muscle, fat and bone. M longissimus dorsi (LD), m. biceps femoris (BF), m. semimembranosus (SM), m. semitendinosus (ST) and m. psoas major (PM) were evaluated for pHu, colour, cooking loss, Wamer-Bratzler shear force, sensory properties and muscle fibre types. Muscles and soft tissues of joints were analyzed for moisture, fat, ash, protein and cholesterol. The nature and amounts of fatty acids (FA) in LD, fat depots and duodenal content were determined. Rusa males grew rapidly in their first ten months, 67 kg in their first year (63 % of two-year live weight), but there was little growth in winter. Deposition of subcutaneous fat (SF) started after twelve months of age. Both castrates and entire male had thin subcutaneous fat (maximum 14 mm) in their second year and it varied seasonally. Live weights and carcase weights of castrates were significantly lower than those of entire males killed at 25 months (P< 0.03). Dressing percentage was high (55.2 to 64.7%) and increased with age and castration (P