Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-17T08:15:52.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Infertile bulls versus steers: I. The influence of level of nutrition on relative growth rate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. A. Price  and
N. T. M. Yeates
M. A. Price
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Husbandry, University of New England. Armidale, N.S.W. 2351, Australia
N. T. M. Yeates
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Husbandry, University of New England. Armidale, N.S.W. 2351, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

A partial castration technique is proposed for use in cattle husbandry where bulls are used for slaughter beef, whioh renders the animals sterile apparently without otherwise impairing the expression of their male characteristics.

Fifty such infertile bulls were compared with an equal number of steers in six growth trials under a range of nutritional conditions. In all cases the bulls grew faster than the steers. The results showed that the higher the rate of gain achieved, the greater was the advantage in favour of the bulls from about 1% at under ½ kg/day to over 25% at 1 kg/day). Accordingly, it is suggested that under conditions of good growth rate (in excess of about ¾ kg/day) complete castration is contra-indicated for efficient beef production, and that partial castration might be adopted as a routine management procedure.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 77 , Issue 2 , October 1971 , pp. 307 - 311
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brännäng, E. (1966). Carcase composition of Swedish cattle breeds. Anim. Breed. Abatr. 34, no. 2822.Google Scholar
Bukris, M. J., Bogart, R. & Oliver, A. W. (1953). Effect of male hormone on beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 12, 740.Google Scholar
Cobic, T. (1968). Castration experiments with Yugoslav Simmental cattle. Anim. Prod. 10, 103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harte, F. J. (1969). The production of beef from young bulls. Anim. Prod. 11, 286.Google Scholar
Joubert, D. M. & Dreyer, J. H. (1965). Bull versus steer on a moderate plane of nutrition in a group feeding trial. Proc. S. Afr. Soc. Anim. Prod., 7, 151.Google Scholar
Kadiiski, E. G. & Petkov, P. (1964). Comparative fattening trials with steers and bull calves at pasture and in byres. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 34, no. 1044.Google Scholar
Klosterman, E. W., Kunkle, L. E., Gerlaugh, P. & Cahill, V. R. (1954). The effect of age of castration upon tho rate and economy of gain and carcase quality of beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 13, 817.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kochakian, D. C., Moe, Jean G. & Dolphin, J. (1950). Protein anabolic effect of testosterone propionate in adrenalectomised and normal rats. Am. J. Physiol. 162, 581.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leathem, J. H. (1959). Extragonadal factors in reproduction. In Recent Progress in the Endocrinology of Reproduction. Ed. Lloyd, C. W.. New York and London: Academic Press Inc.Google Scholar
Lindner, H. R. & Mann, T. (1960). Relationship between the content of androgenic steroids in the testes and the secretory activity of the seminal vesicles in the bull. J. Endocr. 21, 341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Macdearmid, A. & Kay, M. (1969). Further studies on the protein requirements of young bulls and steers. Anim. Prod. 11, 275.Google Scholar
Maymone, B. (1963). The problems of castrating meat animals and proposal for a new rearing technique. Annali Sper. agr. XVII, 3–4, 285.Google Scholar
Quinn, L., Mott, G. O., Bissohoff, W. V. A. & Da, Rocha G. L. (1966). Response of male zebu calves to creep feeding, castration, diethylstilboestrol and supplementary feeding on pasture. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 36, no. 123.Google Scholar
Ritzman, E. G., Colovos, N. F. & Benendict, F. G. (1936). The heat production of the sheep and the pig before and after castration. Tech. Bull. New Hamps. agric. Exp. Stn., no. 64.Google Scholar
Robertson, I. S. (1966). Castration in farm animals – its advantages and disadvantages. Vet. Rec. 78, 130.Google Scholar
Tcrton, J. D. (1962). The effect of castration on meat production from cattle, sheep and pigs. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 30, 447.Google Scholar
Wickens, R. & Bail, C. (1967). Comparisons of yard fed bulls and steers for beef production. Expl. Husb., no. 15, 64.Google Scholar