How to Cite
Abstract
A study in Florida was conducted to examine the issue of age at castration to determine if castration timing resulted in significant differences in growth rate and weaning weight in nursing calves. In addition, the study included a comparison between Angus and Brangus calves in the treatment groups to determine if there was a breed by castration effect. No differences in calf growth rates were observed in early compared to late castration. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Amie Imler, Todd Thrift, Matt Hersom, and Joel Yelich, and published by the UF Department of Animal Sciences, March 2013.
References
Avent, R. K., C. E. Ward, and D. L. Lalman. 2002. Economic Value of Preconditioning Feeder Calves. Extension Fact Sheet AGEC-583. Stillwater: Oklahoma State University.
Bailey, C. M., C. L. Probert, and V. R. Bohman. 1966. "Growth Rate, Feed Utilization and Body Composition of Young Bulls and Steers." J. Anim. Sci. 25(1):132-137. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1966.251132x
Berry, B. A., W. T. Choat, D. R. Gill, C. R. Krehbiel, R. A. Smith, and R. L. Ball. 2001. Effect of Castration on Health and Performance of Newly Received Stressed Feedlot Calves. Oklahoma State Research Report. Stillwater: Oklahoma State University. http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/research/research-reports-1/2001/2001%20Berry%20Research%20Report.pdf.
Bretschneider, G. 2005. "Effects of Age and Method of Castration on Performance and Stress Response of Beef Male Cattle: A Review." Livestock Prod. Sci. 97(2-3):89-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.04.006
Cundiff, L. V., R. L. Willham, and C. A. Pratt. 1966. "Effects of Certain Factors and Their Two-Way Interactions on Weaning Weight in Beef Cattle." J. Anim. Sci. 25:972-982. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1966.254972x
Glimp, H. A., M. E. Dikeman, H. J. Tuma, K. E. Gregory, and L. V. Cundiff. 1971. "Effect of Sex Condition on Growth and Carcass Traits of Male Hereford and Angus Cattle." J. Anim. Sci. 33(6):1242-1247. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1971.3361242x
Gortsema, S. R., J. A. Jacobs, R. G. Sasser, T. L. Gregory, and R. C. Bull. 1974. "Effects of Endogenous Testosterone on Production and Carcass Traits in Beef Cattle." J. Anim. Sci. 39(4):680-686. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1974.394680x
King, B. D., R. D. H. Cohen, C. L. Guenther, and E. D. Janzen. 1991. "The Effect of Age and Method of Castration on Plasma Cortisol in Beef Calves." Can. J. Anim. Sci. 71:257-263. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjas91-033
Klosterman, E. W., L. E. Kunkle, P. Gerlaugh, and V. R. Cahill. 1954. "The Effect of Age of Castration upon Rate and Economy of Gain and Carcass Quality of Beef Calves." J. Anim. Sci. 13:817-825. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1954.134817x
Knight, T. W., G. P. Cosgrove, M. G. Lambert, and A. F. Death. 1999. "Effects of Method and Age at Castration on Growth Rate and Meat Quality of Bulls." New Zealand J. of Agriculture Res. 42:255-268. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.1999.9513376
Knight, T. W., G. P. Cosgrove, A. F. Death, and C. B. Anderson. 2000. "Effect of Age of Pre- and Post-Pubertal Castration of Bulls on Growth Rates and Carcass Quality." New Zealand J. of Agriculture Res. 43(4):585-588. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2000.9513455
Lehmkuhler, J. 2003. Castration of Beef Calves: Early or Late? Madison: University of Wisconsin-Madison. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/animalscience/beef/documents/2003CastrationofBeefCalves.pdf.
Looper, M. L., J. M. Burke, L. J. McBeth, C. R. Krehbiel, R. Flores, C. F. Rosenkrans, and G. E. Aiken. 2005. "Growth, Feedlot Performance, and Carcass Characteristics of Angus and Charolais-Sired Calves Castrated at Birth or Weaning." AAES Res. Series 535:109-111.
Lyons-Johnson, D. 1998. "Earlier Castration Reduces Stress." Agriculture Research Magazine. USDA 46(8):15.
Marlowe, T. J., and J. A. Gaines. 1958. "The Influence of Age, Sex, and Season of Birth of Calf, and Age of Dam on Preweaning Growth Rate and Type Score of Beef Calves." J. Anim. Sci. 17(3):706-713. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1958.173706x
Micol, D., M. P. Oury, B. Picard, J. F. Hocquette, M. Briand, R. Dumont, D. Egal, R. Jailler, H. Dubroeucq, and J. Agabriel. 2009. "Effect of Age at Castration on Animal Performance, Muscle Characteristics and Meat Quality Traits in 26-Month-Old Charolais Steers." Livestock Sci. 120(1-2):116-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2008.05.002
Schulz, L., K. Dhuyvetter, K. Harborth, and J. Waggoner. 2010. Factors Affecting Feeder Cattle Prices in Kansas and Missouri. Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University. http://www.agmanager.info/livestock/budgets/production/beef/Factors%20Affecting%20Feeder%20Cattle%20Prices%20%28Nov2009--RevisedMar2010%29.pdf.
Stafford, K. J., and D. J. Mellor. 2005. "The Welfare Significance of the Castration of Cattle: A Review." New Zealand Vet. J. 53(5):271-278. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2005.36560
United States Department of Agriculture, National Animal Health Monitoring System (USDA-NAHMS). 2008. Part I: Reference of Beef Cow-Calf Management Practices in the United States, 2007-08. #N512-1008. Fort Collins, CO: USDA, APHIS, National Animal Health Monitoring System.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.