Effect of castration technique on beef calf performance, feed efficiency, and inflammatory response

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Veterinary Medicine
• Beef Cattle Production

Background:

• Castration is a common practice in beef production to improve carcass quality and manage behavior.
• Different castration techniques exist, including surgical methods and banding, each with potential impacts on animal welfare and performance.
• Understanding the effects of these techniques on physiological responses is crucial for optimizing beef calf management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of various castration techniques on daily feed intake (DFI), daily water intake (DWI), growth performance, residual feed intake (RFI), and inflammatory responses in weaned beef calves.
• To compare the effects of pre-weaning surgical castration versus castration at weaning using different methods (banding, surgical emasculator, Henderson Castrating Tool).
• To determine if castration method influences acute phase protein levels as an indicator of inflammatory response.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-five weaned beef calves were assigned to five treatment groups: pre-weaning surgical castration (CON), intact bulls (BULL), banding (BAN), Henderson Castrating Tool (HEN), and surgical emasculator (SUR).
• Calves were housed in a GrowSafe facility for 84 days, with DFI, DWI, and growth performance monitored.
• Blood samples were collected at multiple time points post-castration to analyze acute phase proteins, assessing inflammatory response.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in average daily gain (ADG), DFI, DWI, or gain:feed were observed among castration techniques over the 84-day trial.
• Surgical castration (SUR, HEN) induced a short-term inflammatory response, while banding (BAN) resulted in a delayed inflammatory response.
• Pre-weaning castration showed improved ADG, feed intake, and inflammation response in the initial 14 days compared to castration at weaning.

Conclusions:

• Castration method did not significantly affect overall performance, feed intake, water intake, or inflammatory response in weaned beef calves over an 84-day period.
• Surgical castration methods (emasculator, Henderson tool) caused a more immediate inflammatory response, whereas banding led to a delayed response.
• Pre-weaning castration may offer some advantages in early performance and reduced inflammation compared to castration at weaning.