Effect Of Castration Age Research Articles

Effects of Castration Age on the Growth Performance of Nubian Crossbred Male Goats.

To determine the optimal timing for performing castration on goats, eighteen male Nubian crossbred goats were randomly assigned to two groups and castrated at 3 months and 6 months of age, respectively. Daily dry matter intake, biweekly body weights, and ultrasonic measurements of longissimus dorsi muscle growth were recorded. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the blood parameter analysis (except testosterone, 0.36 ± 0.26 vs. 3.61 ± 0.27 ng/mL at 25 weeks old), economic analysis, and growth performance, including final body weight, total weight gain, average daily gain, total dry-matter intake, and feed conversion ratio (p > 0.05). However, the longissimus dorsi muscle depth of goats castrated at 6 months of age was significantly higher than that of goats castrated at 3 months of age. In conclusion, castration timing does not have a significant effect on the growth performance of goats; therefore, castrating goats at 3 months of age may be the best practice considering animal welfare and possible risks associated with late castration.

PSVI-20 Effects of castration age on growth, carcass, and sensory characteristics of Gulf Coast Native sheep.

PSVI-20 Effects of castration age on growth, carcass, and sensory characteristics of Gulf Coast Native sheep.

Effects of castration age, protein level and lysine/methionine ratio in the diet on colour, lipid oxidation and meat acceptability of intensively reared Friesian steers

A total of 64 intensively reared Friesian steers were used in a 2×2×2 design to study the effects of age of castration (15 days old v. 5 months old), dietary protein level (14.6% v. 16.8%; DM basis) and lysine/methionine (lys/met) ratio (3.0 v. 3.4) on meat quality. The lys/met ratio of 3.0 was reached with supplementation of protected methionine. Animals were slaughtered at a live weight of 443.5±26.2 kg at around 12 months of age. Colour and lipid oxidation were measured in the longissimus thoracis muscle throughout the 14 days of display under modified atmospheric and commercial display conditions. A panel of 17 consumers assessed daily the visual acceptability of the meat on display. A consumer acceptability eating test was also performed with 120 consumers in meat aged for 7 days under vacuum conditions. Lipid oxidation was not influenced by castration age and the protein level in the diet. Castration age did not affect meat colour, but meat from the low protein level diet and the low lys/met ratio showed higher redness (a*) from 3 days of display onwards. Nevertheless, from 6 days onwards, consumer visual acceptability was below the level of acceptance in all treatments, and even from 5 days onwards in those animals that underwent early castration and were fed either a high protein diet or a combination diet low in protein content and high in lys/met ratio. The best accepted treatments throughout the display period were those from late castrated animals fed a low protein diet, probably related to other visual aspects. However, the best accepted meat after consumption was that from late castrated animals fed high protein and high lys/met. The addition of protected methionine to reach lys/met levels of 3.0 did not improve beef acceptability, with the high protein diet being preferred by consumers in terms of palatability in late castrated animals.

Effects of castration age, dietary protein level and lysine/methionine ratio on animal performance, carcass and meat quality of Friesian steers intensively reared

The effects of castration age, dietary protein level and the dietary lysine/methionine (lys/met) ratio on animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality were studied in 64 intensively reared Friesian steers. Animals underwent castration procedures at 15 days old or at 5 months old. Dietary treatments started at 90 days old, with eight animals from each castration age randomly allocated to each treatment: 14.6% v. 16.8% CP (DM basis), and 3.0 v. 3.4 lys/met, on a 2×2×2 design. The recommended ratio of 3.0 was reached with supplementation of protected methionine. Steers were slaughtered at 443.5±26.2 kg live weight when they reached 12 months old approximately. Average daily gain, cold carcass weight or carcass classification were not affected by any studied effect. Muscle moisture (P=0.024), C18:2n-6 percentage (P=0.047), polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (P=0.049) and n-6/n-3 (P=0.003) were higher in late castrated animals. Both high levels of dietary protein (P=0.008) and lys/met ratio (P=0.048) increased the percentage of muscle in the carcass. A level of 16.8% of CP in the diet also increased the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids in the intramuscular fat (P=0.032), whereas a ratio lys/met of 3.4 decreased the percentage of saturated fatty acids (P=0.028). Thus, it is recommended using diets with a high protein level (16.8%) and a high lys/met ratio (3.4) in animals slaughtered at a young age, in order to obtain carcasses with high muscle content without negatively affecting productive traits or intramuscular fat composition.

The effect of castration age on the productivity of meat from lamb hogs

This article contains information about influence of castration of lamb hogs at the age of 4, 5 and 6 months with Burdizzo forceps on some parameters of meat productivity. This study included 200 lamb hogs divided into 4 groups. The following criteria were studied: Pre-slaughter weight, carcase weight and fatness category of animals, which were monitored by periodical weighting at the age of 4 months before castration, and subsequently at 8, 11 and 14 months prior to control slaughter. At weighting before the slaughter at the age of 14 months animals which were castrated at the aged of 5 and 6 months had the best meat productivity – 45.1 ± 0.18 and 46 ± 0.16 kg, which, in percentage ratio in comparison to the first weighting increased by 36.4 and 34.6%, in comparison to the second weighting by 15.0 and 16.0%, and in comparison to the third weighting by 8.3 and 9.6%. It appeared that upon the attainment of the age of 11 and 14 months, lamb hogs castrated at the age of 6 months have better meat productivity than lamb hogs castrated at the age of 4 and 5 months or uncastrated animals. Key words: Castration, live weight, Narcass weight, Burdizzo forceps, lamb hogs.

Effect of castration age on weight and size of some bones in Piemontese male cattle

Effect of pre- and post-pubertal castration on bone weight and measurements has been studied in 3 groups of Piemontese male cattle (EC - early castrated, LC - late castrated, IM - intact) reared in the same environmental conditions and slaughtered at about 18 month of age, at about 550 kg of l.w., and at the same commercial fattening degree. At side commercial dissection all separated bones were weighted, and on the main ones (scapula, humerus, radius, femur, and tibia) linear measures were recorded and then some conformation ratios were calculated (weight/length, length/width, and length/circumference). Data were analysed by GLM ANCOVA procedure, correcting data on side weight to avoid bias due to differences in carcass weight. No differences were found in side bone weight (23.58 ± 2.61 kg), so as in single bone weight, measures and ratios.

Effect of castration age on weight and size of some muscles in Piemontese male cattle

Effect of pre- and post-pubertal castration on muscle weight and measurements has been studied in 3 groups of Piemontese male cattle (EC - early castrated, LC - late castrated, IM - intact) reared in the same environmental conditions and slaughtered at about 18 month of age, at about 550 kg of l.w., and at the same commercial fattening degree. At side commercial dissection all separated muscles or meat cuts were weighted, and on the most regular ones (regular roll, shoulder clod – “copertina”, blade filet, strip loin, tenderloin, and eye round) linear measures were recorded and then some conformation ratios (weight/length, length/width, and length/circumference) were calculated. Data were analysed by GLM ANCOVA procedure, correcting data on side weight to avoid bias due to differences in carcass weight. Differences were found in meat weight, heavier in IM than in LC and EC (P<0.05), and fat weight, heavier in LC and EC than IM (P<0.01). Only the blade filet weight/length and length/circumference ratios were higher in EC than LC and IM (P<0.05) and in IM than EC (P<0.05) respectively, showing the poor effect of sexual neutralisation on weight and size of the considered muscles.

Welfare, health and product quality in organic beef production: a Danish perspective

In Europe, organic beef production is based on grazing in summer and feeding a minimum of 60% roughage during the whole year. Although these recommendations were intended to improve animal health and welfare, several factors may cause problems in organic beef production systems. This paper gives an overview of welfare, health and product quality in organic beef production, with emphasis on organic steer production based on dairy-breed bull calves. A short overview of different production systems, highlighting the effect on health and welfare, is also given. Feeding aspects are discussed. Farm studies have shown that organic steer production involves large amounts of roughage; only small quantities of cereals are used compared to conventional production of bulls and calves. Fattening of organic steers may result in metabolic disorders due to sudden changes in the feed ration when changing from high roughage to high cereal content. Various problems relating to the production system are discussed. Subjective monthly observations indicate a good level of general health and welfare in organic steer production systems. On pasture, parasitic infection is the primary factor affecting animal health and productivity of organic beef. Rearing of young calves and the utilization of marginal grazing areas requires further attention. The effect of castration on health and welfare, and the effect of castration age and method, are also discussed. Product quality of organic beef is affected by the production system, especially sex, grazing and exercise. Grazing and exercise, which are inevitable components of an organic beef production system, may affect the eating quality due to darker meat color, risk of off-flavor, yellow fat, and a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Nevertheless, the overall effect on sensory attributes may be of minor importance. For the future, feeding large amounts of roughage, combined with a high bioactive forage content, could be one way of improving the product quality of organic beef.

Effect of castration age on carcass traits and meat quality of Simmental bulls

RiassuntoEffetto dell’età di castrazione su caratteristiche della carcassa e qualità della carne di tori Pezzati Rossi. Il posticipo dell’età di castrazione sembra limitare la riduzione delle performance produttive, mantenendo gli effetti positivi sulla qualità della carne. In proposito, su 24 tori di razza Pezzata Rossa, lo studio ha valutato l’effetto della castrazione a 10 o 12 mesi (Anticipata vs. Tardiva; periodo di ingrasso: 191 vs. 151 giorni) sulle caratteristiche qualitative della carcassa e del Longissimus thoracis. Sulla carne sono state analizzate composizione chimica, colore, tenerezza e gusto, con tecniche strumentali e sensoriali. La castrazione anticipata comporta l’ottenimento di carne a più elevato tenore lipidico che migliora la tenerezza, aumenta la luminosità e riduce le perdite di cottura. Nel caso degli animali castrati tardivamente, la minor marezzatura sembra invece favorire la produzione di carne con un più elevato valore dell’indice del rosso e dal gusto più apprezzato alla valutazione sensoriale. In conclusione, in riferimento alle preferenze del consumatore medio italiano, i dati suggeriscono di posticipare la castrazione soprattutto per limitare una eccessiva deposizione lipidica intramuscolare.

Effect of castration age on slaughtering performance of Piemontese male cattle

RiassuntoEffetto dell’età di castrazione sui rilievi alla macellazione di bovini maschi di razza Piemontese. Per completare la caratterizzazione del manzo di razza Piemontese sono stati indagati gli effetti della diversa età di castrazione sulle performance di macellazione di 24 soggetti (8 manzi castrati in età pre-pubere, 8 manzi castrati in età post-pubere e 8 maschi interi), macellati alla stessa età e stato di ingrassamento. I risultati ottenuti evidenziano solo lievi differenze tra i manzi castrati precocemente e tardivamente e gli interi (peso testa, stinchi, pelle, intestini, corata, mezzena destra). Sulla base dei dati ottenuti alla macellazione non si riscontrano vantaggi particolari nel posticipare l’epoca di castrazione, tradizionalmente fatta in età pre-pubere.

The development of pain in young pigs associated with castration and attempts to prevent castration-induced behavioral changes

Four experiments were conducted to examine the development of castration-induced behavioral changes, the effects of castration age on pig weight gain, and the efficacy of common analgesics for use in castrated pigs. In Exp. 1, behavioral changes associated with castration of pigs at 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 d of age were evaluated. Castration caused measurable changes (reduced suckling, reduced standing, and increased lying times, P < .05) in the behavior of young pigs compared with that of intact pigs at all ages tested. Effects of age and interactions between age and castration treatment were not significant (P > .10) for any behaviors evaluated. In Exp. 2, the performance of pigs castrated at 1 d of age was compared with the performance of those castrated on d 14 and female littermates. Birth weights, weaning weights, and mortality were recorded. Pigs that were castrated on d 14 were heavier (P = .05) at weaning and had a higher (P < .05) weight gain during lactation compared to pigs castrated on d 1 of age. Pig mortality was similar among the treatments. In Exp. 3 and 4, the efficacies of pain-reducing drugs (non-narcotic analgesics) were evaluated for effectiveness in reducing castration-induced behavioral changes in 8-wk-old pigs. Although castration reduced (P < .05) feeding time and weight gain, neither aspirin nor butorphanol influenced behavioral changes associated with castration. We conclude that pigs show similar behavioral changes (and probably pain perception) when castrated from 1 to 20 d of age. However, pig performance data favored castration at 14 d rather than at 1 d of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of castration age, method and implant regime on growth and carcass traits of male beef cattle

In 1984–1985 and 1985–1986 groups of 136 and 127 male calves were used to assess the effects of multiple implants (Ralgro and Steeroid), castration time (early and late) and castration method (surgical and chemical) on growth to weaning and feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Ralgro increased calf rate of gain to weaning (P &lt; 0.05) and adjusted weaning weight (P &lt; 0.01) but did not affect rate of gain during the feedlot period. Although Ralgro increased (P &lt; 0.001) weight at slaughter, it took longer (P &lt; 0.05) for implanted cattle to reach Canada A1 than unimplanted cattle. Steeroid did not affect rate of gain to weaning but did increase (P &lt; 0.05) adjusted weaning weight. Steeroid increased (P &lt; 0.05) rate of gain relative to unimplanted cattle during the growing period in the feedlot and cattle implanted four times from birth to slaughter gained more (P &lt; 0.05) than cattle implanted twice (birth and weaning). For the entire feedlot period, bulls receiving Steeroid gained faster (P &lt; 0.05) than unimplanted bulls with no difference (P &gt; 0.05) between implant groups (two or four implants). Ralgro implants increased (P &lt; 0.05) carcass weight, rib-eye area and cutability while Steeroid increased (P &lt; 0.05) only carcass weight. However, when rib-eye area was adjusted for carcass weight, the effect of Ralgro was not significant (P &gt; 0.05). Bulls had greater (P &lt; 0.05) shipping weight, carcass weight, rib-eye area, dressing percent and cutability than steers. Age at castration (early or late) had no effect on feedlot performance or carcass traits while method of castration (surgical or chemical) had some effects (P &lt; 0.05) on ADG, liveweight, carcass weight and rib-eye area. Key words: Castration, Ralgro, Steeroid, beef, growth, carcass