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 controls at 12 and 15 wk of age. Pectoralis major weights of 15-wk-old castrated turkeys were not significantly differe nt than the sham-operated controls, but were less than those of intact controls. Pectoralis weights, expressed as a percentage of BW, did no t differ among these groups. There were no differences in tarsometatar sal lengths, weight, or percentage ash among the groups. The incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia ranged from 66.7 to 80.0%, with average sc ores ranging from 1.00 to 1.42, with no differences among groups. Plas ma testosterone concentrations of unoperated and sham-operated control s averaged 16 and .26 ng/mL at 15 wk, whereas concentrations in 7 of 1 2 castrates were undetectable and amounts in the other 5 castrates ave raged .03 ng/mL.