Effect of castration age on weight and size of some bones in Piemontese male cattle

Effect of pre- and post-pubertal castration on bone weight and measurements has been studied in 3 groups of Piemontese male cattle (EC - early castrated, LC - late castrated, IM - intact) reared in the same environmental conditions and slaughtered at about 18 month of age, at about 550 kg of l.w., a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: C. Lazzaroni, D. Biagini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2010-04-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/1522
Description
Summary:Effect of pre- and post-pubertal castration on bone weight and measurements has been studied in 3 groups of Piemontese male cattle (EC - early castrated, LC - late castrated, IM - intact) reared in the same environmental conditions and slaughtered at about 18 month of age, at about 550 kg of l.w., and at the same commercial fattening degree. At side commercial dissection all separated bones were weighted, and on the main ones (scapula, humerus, radius, femur, and tibia) linear measures were recorded and then some conformation ratios were calculated (weight/length, length/width, and length/circumference). Data were analysed by GLM ANCOVA procedure, correcting data on side weight to avoid bias due to differences in carcass weight. No differences were found in side bone weight (23.58 ± 2.61 kg), so as in single bone weight, measures and ratios.
ISSN:1594-4077
1828-051X