Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-f46jp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-07T12:02:33.352Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Induced cryptorchidism in lambs: effects on growth rate, carcass and meat characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. L. Corbett ,
E. P. Furnival ,
W. H. Southcott ,
R. J. Park  and
W. R. Shorthose
J. L. Corbett
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Animal Physiology, Pastoral Research Laboratory, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
E. P. Furnival
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Animal Physiology, Pastoral Research Laboratory, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
W. H. Southcott
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Animal Physiology, Pastoral Research Laboratory, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
R. J. Park
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Food Research, Meat Research Laboratory, Cannon Hill, Qld 4170, Australia
W. R. Shorthose
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Food Research, Meat Research Laboratory, Cannon Hill, Qld 4170, Australia
Get access

Summary

Pushing the testes of lambs 1 to 2 weeks old into the body cavity and applying a rubber ring to cause atrophy of the empty scrotum, did not prevent most testes growing in a subcutaneous position. A modified technique used in a second experiment, which caused ablation of the tunica vaginalis as well as the scrotum, impeded more effectively the descent and growth of the testicles.

In the two experiments growth rates of the induced cryptorchids were, respectively, 15·3% and 6·0% (non-significant) greater than those of castrated males, dressing percentages were about 2 units lower, and fat depth over the eye muscle of 13th rib chops was 2·6 compared with 2·9 mm (non-significant) and 1·9 compared with 4·1 mm. Chops from the cryptorchids had a visual appeal similar to those from castrated male and from female lambs; differences in flavour detected by taste panel had no significant effect on overall flavour acceptability.

Tenderness did not differ significantly between sex groups, but age and Warner-Bratzler shear values were significantly and positively correlated as were ultimate pH of the meat and age at slaughter. Cryptorchidism induced by the modified technique probably permits the production of heavier carcasses with lower fat cover than on castrated males and avoids practical disadvantages that may be encountered in raising entire male lambs.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , April 1973 , pp. 157 - 163
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1973

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

Duncan, D. B. 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11: 1–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Field, R. A. 1971. Effect of castration on meat quality and quantity. J. Anim. Sci. 32: 849–858.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hudson, L. W., Gump, H. A., Woolfolk, P. G., Kemp, J. D. and Reese, C. M. 1968. J. Anim. Sci. 27: 45–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Judd, D. B. and Wyszecki, G. 1963. Colour in Business, Science and Industry (2nd ed). Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Ledward, D. A. and Shorthose, W. R. 1971. A note on the haem pigment concentration of lamb as influenced by age and sex. Anim. Prod. 13: 193–195.Google Scholar
Park, R. J., Corbett, J. L. and Furnival, E. P. 1972. Flavour differences in meat from lambs grazed on lucerne (Medicago sativa) or phalaris (Phalaris tuberosd) pastures. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 78: 47–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peryam, D. R. and Swartz, V. W. 1950. Measurement of sensory differences. Fd Technol., Champaign. 4: 390–395.Google Scholar
Rhodes, D. N. 1969. The quality of meat from male and non-male animals. In Meat Production from Entire Male Animals (ed. Rhodes, D. N.), pp. 189–198. Churchill, London.Google Scholar
Turton, J. D. 1969. The effect of castration on meat production from cattle, sheep and pigs. In Meat Production from Entire Male Animals (ed. Rhodes, D. N.), pp. 1–50. Churchill, London.Google Scholar
Wilson, L. L., Ziegler, J. H., Rugh, M. C., Watkins, J. L., Merritt, T. L., Simpson, M. J. and Kreuzberger, F. L. 1970. Comparison of live, slaughter and carcass characteristics of rams, induced cryptorchids and wethers. J. Anim. Sci. 31: 455–458.Google Scholar