title: Effects of caponization on growth performance, carcass composition and meat quality of males of a layer line.
abstract: The present experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of caponization on growth, carcass composition and meat quality of males of a layer line reared until the 34th week of age. Two hundred and fifty males of a layer line were purchased and randomly divided in two equal groups: intact males and capons. Caponization was conducted at 45 days of age. Three slaughters were performed at the ages of 26, 30 and 34 weeks of age. Caponization did not affect feed intake and final live weight. Capons had a heavier breast and lighter leg than intact males. Lipid accumulation was enhanced by the caponization and fat was stored mainly at the fat pad and the skin of the commercial parts excluding the drumstick. The Pectoralis major muscle of capons had higher intramuscular fat content, lightness (L) and yellowness (b*) values and lower redness values (a*). In conclusion, caponization could be applied to a layer genotype in order to produce commercial chicken meat.
authors.affiliation: 1             Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, 118 55 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Symeon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mantis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bizelis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kominakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rogdakis
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D009929:Organ Size; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation