Effects of caponization on growth performance and certain particulars in domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus) cockerels

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the impacts of caponization on feed intake, comb height, carcass weight and weight of particular visceral organs (i.e., liver, spleen and adrenal gland) in domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus) cockerels. Twenty (20) apparently healthy cockerels were randomly selected and equally distributed into two groups: Group I (control group) and Group II (experimental group). The cockerels in both groups were carefully reared and provided with formulated feed during the research. For Group II, the 8-week-old birds were caponized, and further the capons were slaughtered at 16 weeks of age for conducting this study. In both groups, daily feed intake (g) and body weight (kg) of the cockerels were recorded at 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks of age, while the comb height (mm) of the birds were recorded at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age; and the weight (g) of leg, breast, liver, spleen and adrenal gland were recorded at only 16 weeks of age. The body weight, daily feed intake, and weight of leg, breast, liver, spleen and adrenal gland were significantly (P<0.05) increased mostly at 14-16 weeks of age in Group II. On the contrary, the comb heights were significantly (P<0.05) decreased at 12-16 weeks of age in Group II than Group I. These findings indicated that caponization was effective to promote growth performance influencing the meat production and particular physical traits in domestic cockerels.