The effects of castration on the growth and meat quality of grazing cattle

Abstract

Two experiments are described on the effects of bilateral castration, unilateral castration, and no castration on the growth and meat quality of grazing cattle. ln the first experiment 30 animals were allocated into entire male, unilateral castrate, and bilateral castrate groups and slaughtered at ten months old. There were significant differences in liveweight gain during certain periods, but at slaughter there were no significant differences in liveweight or carcase length. The full castrates had a significantly higher dressing percentage, heavier hindquarters, higher fat percentage, and lower muscle and bone percentage. Percentage dry matter, intramuscular fat, and tenderness were also higher in the full castrates. In the second experiment animals were allocated at ten weeks into unilateral castrate or bilateral castrate treatment groups. Four animals in each group were 22-24 months when slaughtered. The full castrates had significantly higher dressing percentage, lower percentage forequarter, and more tender and lighter coloured meat. It is concluded that, under the experimental conditions described, although there were significant differences in body composition and tenderness attributed to the endocrinal effects of full castration, there were no large differences in growth rate. Differences in conformation and meat quality were larger in older animals.