Live and carcass characteristics of bulls and steers castrated at three different ages

Author: H.J. Meaker & G.C. Liebenberg
Year: 1982
Issue: 3
Volume: 12
Page: 375 - 378

Fifty four Sussex male calves were allotted at birth to the following 4 treatments: (i) castrated within 24 hours after birth with elastrator rings, (ii) and (iii) castrated at 3 and 6 months using a burdizzo, and (iv) left as entire males. After weaning at approximately 7 months and following a finishing period on a moderate level of nutrition the animals were slaughtered at 12 to 13 months of age. There was a linear decrease in height at wither's as the age at castration was delayed. The steers castrated at 3 months had the poorest performance throughout the trial. The bulls produced the heaviest carcasses as well as the leanest and had the lowest grading and marbling. Except for the steers castrated at 3 months there was no significant difference in final live body mass, carcass mass, slaughter percentage, grading, marbling and fat thickness on the eye muscle between steers castrated within 24 hours after birth or at 6 months.

Keywords: bulls, Live body and carcass measurements, steers
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