STUDIES ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CAPON MEAT (CASTRATED ROOSTER) OBTAINED FROM HUBBARD HYBRID

Cipriana Maria Cuciureanu, Roxana Nicoleta Rațu, R.M. Radu-Rusu, M.G. Usturoi

Abstract
   The study focused on the chemical composition (water content, dry matter content and mineral content) of capped meat (castrated rooster) obtained from the Hubbard hybrid. In this regard, were formed two batches of Hubbard roosters from the same breeder of the same age. An experimental batch, noted Lexp-1, consisting of castrated roosters at the age of 8 weeks, and a control batch, noted Lm-1, composed of uncastrated roosters. At the age of 20 weeks, the birds from the two batches were slaughtered. In this study, physico-chemical analyzes were carried out on the following muscle groups: wing muscles, the pectoral muscles, the upper thigh muscles, respectively the drumstick muscles from Hubbard's capons and roosters. The percentage of water varies noticeably between the two batches studied. In case of breast, the roosters from Lm-1 recorded 1.49% (73.43%) more water than the capons of Lexp-1 (71.94%), respectively, in case of drumstick, the roosters from Lexp-1 recorded a water content of 1.32% (75.24%) higher than uncastrated roosters (73.92%). Regarding the dry matter content, the notable differences registered between the two groups in case of the breast, the castrated roosters from Lexp-1 being characterized by a higher value by 1.49% (28.06%) compared to the birds from Lm-1 (26.57% ). Also, at the level of drumstick, uncastrated roosters stood out with a value of 1.32% (26.08%) higher than castrated birds (24.76%). In terms of mineral content, there weren’t notable differences for the anatomical portions analyzed. The highest ash content was determined for the chest, both batches being characterized by a value of 1.22%, while the lowest percentage of mineral substances was 1.09 for the upper thighs of capons. We recommend further research in this direction.