This study investigated the effects of immunocastration and slaughter age on the carcass yield performance of intensively farmed common eland males. Eighteen male eland (five immunocastrated juveniles, three intact juveniles, five immunocastrated sub-adults, and five intact sub-adults) were finished for four months, after which their carcass, offal, primal cut, and individual muscle yields were determined. Juveniles were ~6 months of age at the start of the experiment, while sub-adults were ~1.5 years old. Primal cuts were dissected to determine the percentage yields of meat, bones (with tendons), separable fat, and trimmings. Immunocastration had no effect on offal or carcass yields. While sub-adults had increased individual muscle yields, juveniles had greater proportionate yields of primal cuts and a greater total high-value: low-value meat ratio. Whilst slaughtering younger male eland could provide additional economic advantages, this should be considered being against changing marketing trends.

Center for Nutrition and Food Sciences Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation The University of Queensland Digital Agricultural Building 8115 Gatton 4343 Australia

Department of Animal Science and Food Processing Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamýcká 129 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Cattle Breeding Institute of Animal Science Přátelství 815 104 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Ethology Institute of Animal Science Přátelství 815 104 00 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Food Quality Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamýcká 129 165 00 Prague Czech Republic

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