Effect of castration time on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef tenderness
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports
J.W. Homm
J.R. Brethour
Follow this and additional works at: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr Part of the Other Animal Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Homm, J.W.; Marston, T.T.; Brethour, J.R.; and Unruh, John A. (2004) "Effect of castration time on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef tenderness," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station
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Effect of castration time on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and
beef tenderness
Abstract
Crossbred Angus calves (n=120) were randomly assigned to early-castrated, early-castrated plus implant,
and late-castrated treatment groups. After weaning, calves were placed on feed at the Western Kansas
Agricultural Research Southeast Agricultural Research Center Station in Hays, Kansas, for finishing.
Onfeed weights and final weights were similar among treatments. During the first 132 days on feed, the
steers castrated early and implanted had a lower average daily gain than early- and late-castration
treatments. Early castrates tended (P=0.08) to have a lower feed-to-gain ratio for the first 132 days on
feed. Hot carcass weight, internal fat, and marbling scores were not affected by treatment. Carcasses
from steers castrated late had less backfat, larger ribeye areas, and lesser yield grades (greater cutability)
than carcasses from steers castrated early, with or without an implant. Carcasses from steers castrated
early and implanted had a greater percentage grading USDA choice (60%) than did carcasses from steers
castrated early (45%) or late (41%). Warner-Bratzler shear force and sensory-panel traits were similar for
all treatment groups.
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Authors
J.W. Homm, T.T. Marston, J.R. Brethour, and John A. Unruh
This research report is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports:
https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol0/iss1/259
EFFECT OF CASTRATION TIME ON FEEDLOT PERFORMANCE, CARCASS
CHARACTERISTICS, AND BEEF TENDERNESS
Summary
Crossbred Angus calves (n=120) were
randomly assigned to early-castrated,
earlycastrated plus implant, and late-castrated
treatment groups. After weaning, calves
were placed on feed at the Western Kansas
Agricultural Research Station in Hays,
Kansas, for finishing. On-feed weights and final
weights were similar among treatments.
During the first 132 days on feed, the steers
castrated early and implanted had a lower
average daily gain than early- and
latecastration treatments. Early castrates tended
(P=0.08) to have a lower feed-to-gain ratio
for the first 132 days on feed. Hot carcass
weight, internal fat, and marbling scores
were not affected by treatment. Carcasses
from steers castrated late had less backfat,
larger ribeye areas, and lesser yield grades
(greater cutability) than carcasses from
steers castrated early, with or without an
implant. Carcasses from steers castrated early
and implanted had a greater percentage
grading USDA choice (60%) than did
carcasses from steers castrated early (45%) or
late (41%). Warner-Bratzler shear force and
sensory-panel traits were similar for all
treatment groups.
Introduction
Cow/calf producers have several options
for selling their calves. Traditionally, calves
have been sold at weaning, sold after a
preconditioning period, or retained through the
feedlot phase. The time of castration can
affect selling weight. Previous research
conducted at KSU has shown that early
castration plus an implant can increase weaning
weights of early castrates to the same weight as
late castrates. Little is known, however, about
the impact of castration strategy on subsequent
feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and
beef tenderness. Therefore, our objective was to
determine the effect of castration time on
feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and
beef tenderness attributes.
Experimental Procedures
One hundred and twenty male beef calves
were randomly assigned to one of three
treatments: early castration, early castration plus an
implant, and late castration. Early-castrated
calves were castrated at approximately 75 days
of age (summer grass turnout time) and, within
this group, (...truncated)