[An J.Y., Zheng J.X., Li J.Y., Zeng D., Qu L.J., Xu G.Y., Yang N. (2010). Effect of myofiber characteristics and thickness of perimysium and endomysium on meat tenderness of chickens. Poultry Sci., 89: 1750–1754.10.3382/ps.2009-00583]Search in Google Scholar
[AOAC(2005). Official Methods of Analysis. 18th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA.]Search in Google Scholar
[Bañón S., Gil M.D., Garrido M.D. (2003). The effects of castration on the eating quality of dry-cured ham. Meat Sci., 65: 1031–1037.10.1016/S0309-1740(02)00321-2]Search in Google Scholar
[Bruns K.W., Pitchard R.H., Boggs D.L. (2004). The relationships among body composition and intramuscular fat content in steers. J. Anim. Sci., 82: 1315–1322.10.2527/2004.8251315x]Search in Google Scholar
[Calik J., Połtowicz K., Świątkiewicz S., Krawczyk J., Nowak J. (2015). Effect of caponization on meat quality of Greenleg Partridge cockerels. Ann. Anim. Sci., 15: 541–553.10.1515/aoas-2015-0002]Search in Google Scholar
[Chen K.L., Chi W.T., Chiou P.W.S. (2005). Caponization and testosterone implantation effects on blood lipid and lipoprotein profile in male chickens. Poultry Sci., 84: 547–552.10.1093/ps/84.4.547]Search in Google Scholar
[Chen T.T., Huang C.C., Lee T.Y., Lin K.J., Chang C.C., Chen K.L. (2010). Effect of caponization and exogenous androgen implantation on muscle characteristics of male chicken. Poultry Sci., 89: 558–563.10.3382/ps.2009-00429]Search in Google Scholar
[Franco D., Pateiro M., Rois D., Vazquez J.A., Lorenzo J.M. (2016). Effects of caponization on growth performance, carcass and meat quality of Mos breed capons reared in free-range production system Ann. Anim. Sci., 16: 909–929.10.1515/aoas-2016-0009]Search in Google Scholar
[Gesek M., Szarek J., Szweda M., Babińska I. (2010). Comparative pathomorphological pattern of the liver in broiler chickens of two breeding lines. J. Comp. Pathol., 143: 343.10.1016/j.jcpa.2010.09.145]Search in Google Scholar
[Gesek M., Szarek J., Otrocka-Domagała I., Babińska I., Paździor K., Szwe-da M., Andrzejewska A., Szynaka B. (2013). Morphological pattern of the livers of different lines of broiler chickens during rearing. Vet. Med.-Czech, 58: 16–24.10.17221/6652-VETMED]Search in Google Scholar
[Gesek M., Zawacka M., Murawska D. (2017). Effects of caponization and age on the histology, lipid localization, and fiber diameter in muscles from Greenleg Partridge cockerels. Poultry Sci., 96: 1759–1766.10.3382/ps/pew451]Search in Google Scholar
[Gesek M., Murawska D., Otrocka-Domagała I., Michalska K., Zawacka M. (2019). Effects of caponization and age on the histology, lipid localization, and fiber diameter in muscles from Leghorn cockerels. Poultry Sci., 98: 1354–1362.10.3382/ps/pey459]Search in Google Scholar
[Johnson D.D., Mc Gowan C.H., Nurse G., Anous M.R. (1995). Breed type and sex effects on carcass traits, composition and tenderness of young goats. Small Rumin. Res., 17: 57–63.10.1016/0921-4488(95)00661-4]Search in Google Scholar
[Kemp J.D., Shelley J.M., Ely D.G., Moody W.G. (1972). Effects of castration and slaughter weight on fatness, cooking losses and palatability of lamb. J. Anim. Sci., 34: 560–562.10.2527/jas1972.344560x]Search in Google Scholar
[Killinger K.M., Calkins C.R., Umberger W.J., Feuz D.M., Eskridge K.M. (2004). Consumer sensory acceptance and value for beef steaks of similar tenderness, but differing in marbling level. J. Anim. Sci., 82: 3294–3301.10.2527/2004.82113294x]Search in Google Scholar
[Kwiecień M., Kasperek K., Grela E., Jeżewska-Witkowska G. (2015). Effect of caponization on the production performance, slaughter yield and fatty acid profile of muscles of Greenleg Partridge cocks. J. Food Sci. Technol., 52: 7227–7235.10.1007/s13197-015-1856-6]Search in Google Scholar
[Liu A., Nishimura T., Takahashi K. (1996). Relationship between structural properties of intramuscular connective tissue and toughness of various chicken skeletal muscles. Meat Sci., 43: 43–49.10.1016/0309-1740(95)00065-8]Search in Google Scholar
[Miguel J.A., Ciria J., Asenjo B., Calvo J.L. (2008). Effect of caponisation on growth and on carcass and meat characteristics in Castellana Negra native Spanish chickens. Animal, 2: 305–311.10.1017/S1751731107001127]Search in Google Scholar
[Quaresma M.A.G., Antunes I.C., Ribeiro M.F., Prazeres S., Bessa R.J.B., da Cos-ta P.M. (2017). Immunocastration as an alternative to caponization: evaluation of its effect on body and bone development and on meat color and composition. Poultry Sci., 96: 3608–3615.10.3382/ps/pex191]Search in Google Scholar
[Rahman M.M., Islam M.A., Ali M.Y., Khondaker M.E.A., Hossain M.M. (2004). Effect of caponization on body weight, hematological traits and blood cholesterol concentration of Nara chickens. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 3: 284–286.10.3923/ijps.2004.284.286]Search in Google Scholar
[Sinanoglou V.J., Mantis F., Miniadis-Meimaroglou S., Symeon G.K., Bize-lis I.A. (2011). Effects of caponisation on lipid and fatty acid composition of intramuscular and abdominal fat of medium-growth broilers. Brit. Poultry Sci., 52: 310–317.10.1080/00071668.2011.581269]Search in Google Scholar
[Sirri F., Bianchi M., Petracci M., Meluzzi A. (2009). Influence of partial and complete caponization on chicken meat quality. Poultry Sci., 88: 1466–1473.10.3382/ps.2008-00405]Search in Google Scholar
[Symeon G.K., Mantis F., Bizelis I., Kominakis A., Rogdakis E. (2010). Effects of caponization on growth performance, carcass composition, and meat quality of medium growth broilers. Poultry Sci., 89: 1481–1489.10.3382/ps.2009-00411]Search in Google Scholar
[Symeon G.K., Mantis F., Bizelis I., Kominakis A., Rogdakis E. (2012). Effects of caponization on growth performance, carcass composition and meat quality of males of a layer type. Animal, 6: 2023–2030.10.1017/S1751731112001024]Search in Google Scholar
[Zawacka M., Murawska D., Gesek M. (2017). The effect of age and castration on the growth rate, blood lipid profile, liver histology and feed conversion in Green-legged Partridge cockerels and capons. Animal, 11: 1017–1026.10.1017/S1751731116002378]Search in Google Scholar