Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T20:38:46.209Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Carcass composition in male fallow deer: age and castration effects on dissected tissue distribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

B. W. Hogg
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ruakura Agricultural Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
G. J. K. Mercer
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ruakura Agricultural Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
Get access

Abstract

Twenty-eight male fallow deer (Dama dama), 14 entire and 14 castrated (seven each 1- and 2-year-old) were slaughtered and their carcasses jointed. Each joint was separated into venison, trim A (low visible fat, diced pieces), trim B (pieces suitable only for mincing), waste and bone. Castration had a significant and cumulative effect on live and carcass weights. At 1 year of age castrated males were 80 g/kg lighter in live weight; at 2 years this difference had increased to 119 g/kg. The pattern for differences in hot and cold carcass weights was similar, being 66 and 148 g/kg lighter at 1 and 2 years old, respectively.

Castration caused small but significant shifts in the proportions of the primal joints, and the proportions of venison, trim A and trim B. Castrated males had smaller neck (9 g/kg) and saddle (10 g/kg) joints, but 18 g/kg larger legs. In the whole carcass they contained 12 g/kg more venison, but correspondingly less trim A and trim B.

Older animals had higher proportions of venison and lower proportions of bone. Venison distribution altered with age, but this was mainly a reflexion of changes in joint proportions.

The overall effect of castration was to reduce carcass weights (on which producers are paid) and reduce venison production proportionately to 0-97 and 0-88 of that achieved in 1- and 2-year-old entire males respectively. In some market situations castration may be an acceptable method of producing venison outside of the normal peak production, but the reduced production would require higher schedule prices to be economically viable for the producer.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adam, J. L. 1988. Growth. In Progressive Fallow Farming (ed. Allen, P. L. and Asher, G. W.), pp. 4755. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton, NZ.Google Scholar
Asher, G. W. 1985. Meat production from fallow deer. In Biology of Deer Production (ed. Fennessy, P. F. and Drew, K. R.), Royal Society of New Zealand Bulletin 22, pp. 299301.Google Scholar
Asher, G. W., Day, A. M. and Barrell, G. K. 1987. Annual cycle of liveweight and reproductive changes of farmed male fallow deer (Dama dama) and the effect of daily oral administration of melatonin in summer on the attainment of seasonal fertility. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 79: 353362.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Asher, G. W., Peterson, A. J. and Bass, J. J. 1989. Seasonal pattern of LH and testosterone secretion in adult male fallow deer Dama dama. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 85: 657665.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butler-Hogg, B. W. 1988. Venison production. In Progressive Fallow Farming (ed. Allen, D. L. and Asher, G. W.), pp. 7988. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hamilton, NZ.Google Scholar
Butler-Hogg, B. W., Catcheside, L. M., Mercer, G. J. K. and Duganzich, D. M. 1990. Venison production from fallow deer. In Fallow Deer Farming — A Technical Guide (ed Marshall, G. and Hazelhurst, E.). New Zealand Fallow Deer Society, Wellington. In press.Google Scholar
Butler-Hogg, B. W. and Whelehan, O. P. 1987. Muscle growth and distribution of muscle weight in Clun and Southdown sheep. Animal Production 44: 133142.Google Scholar
Butterfield, R. M. and Berg, R. T. 1966. A classification of bovine muscles based on their relative growth patterns. Research in Veterinary Science 7: 326332.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butterfield, R. M., Zamora, J., James, A. M., Thompson, J. M. and Williams, J. 1983. Changes in body composition relative to weight and maturity in large and small strains of Australian Merino rams. 2. Individual muscles and muscle groups. Animal Production 36: 165174.Google Scholar
Drew, K. R. 1985. Meat production from farmed deer. In Biology of Deer Production (ed. Fennessy, P. F. and Drew, K. R.), Royal Society of New Zealand, Bulletin 22, pp. 285290.Google Scholar
Drew, K. R., Fennessy, P. F. and Greer, G. J. 1978. The growth and carcass characteristics of entire and castrate red stags. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 38: 142144.Google Scholar
Field, R. A., Young, O. A., Asher, G. W. and Foote, D. M. 1985. Characteristics of male fallow deer muscle at a time of sex-related muscle growth. Growth 49: 190201.Google Scholar
Gregson, J. E. and Purchas, R. W. 1985. The carcass composition of male fallow deer. In Biology of Deer Production (ed. Fennessy, P. F. and Drew, K. R.), Royal Society of New Zealand, Bulletin 22, pp. 295298.Google Scholar
McCall, J. E. 1985. The carcass composition and meat quality of male fallow deer. M. Agric. Sci. Thesis, Massey, University, NZ.Google Scholar
Mulley, R. C. and English, A. W. 1985. The effects of castration of fallow deer (Dama dama) on body growth and venison production. Animal Production 41: 359361.Google Scholar
Tan, G. Y. and Fennessy, P. F. 1981. The effect of castration on some muscles of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.). New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 24: 13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thonney, M. L., Taylor, ST C. S., Murray, J. I. and McClelland, T. H. 1987. Breed and sex differences in equally mature sheep and goats. 3. Muscle weight distribution. Animal Production 45: 277290.Google Scholar
Wallace, V. and Davies, A. S. 1985. Pre— and post-rut body composition of red deer stags. In Biology of Deer Production (ed. Fennessy, P. F. and Drew, K. R.), Royal Society of New Zealand, Bulletin 22, pp. 291293.Google Scholar
Wenham, G. and Pennie, K. 1986. The growth of individual muscles and bones in the red deer. Animal Production 42: 247256.Google Scholar