Effect of early castration on body weight, muscle growth, and bone characteristics of male Nicholas strain turkeys

Body weight of male Nicholas strain turkeys, castrated at 8 to 10 d of age, averaged.60,2.20,5.26,8.26, and 10.83 kg at 3,6,9,12, and 15 wk of age, respectively. These weights did not differ significantly from those of sham-operated control birds, but were significantly less than those of unoperated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Poultry science 1994-03, Vol.73 (3), p.457-463
Main Authors: Burke, W.H, Edwards, H.M. Jr
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANIMALES JOVENES
Animals
Body Weight
Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology
CASTRACION
CASTRATION
CENDRE
CENIZA
DINDON
ENFERMEDADES OSEAS
HUESOS
HUESOS DE LOS MIEMBROS
JEUNE ANIMAL
MACHO
MALE
MUSCLE
Muscles - anatomy & histology
MUSCULOS
Orchiectomy - adverse effects
Orchiectomy - veterinary
OS DES MEMBRES
OSTEOPATHIE
PAVO
PESO
POIDS
TESTOSTERONAS
TESTOSTERONE
Testosterone - blood
Turkeys - blood
Turkeys - growth & development
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Summary:Body weight of male Nicholas strain turkeys, castrated at 8 to 10 d of age, averaged.60,2.20,5.26,8.26, and 10.83 kg at 3,6,9,12, and 15 wk of age, respectively. These weights did not differ significantly from those of sham-operated control birds, but were significantly less than those of unoperated controls at 12 and 15 wk of age. Pectoralis major weights of 15-wk-old castrated turkeys were not significantly different than the sham-operated controls, but were less than those of intact controls. Pectoralis weights, expressed as a percentage of BW, did not differ among these groups. There were no differences in tarsometatarsal lengths, weight, or percentage ash among the groups. The incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia ranged from 66.7 to 80.0%, with average scores ranging from 1.00 to 1.42, with no differences among groups. Plasma testosterone concentrations of unoperated and sham-operated controls averaged 0.16 and 0.26 ng/ml at 15 wk, whereas concentrations in 7 of 12 castrates were undetectable and amounts in the other 5 castrates averaged 0.03 ng/ml
ISSN:0032-5791
1525-3171
DOI:10.3382/ps.0730457