Abstract

By castrating bulls post-puberty and then finishing before slaughter it may be possible to obtain both the higher growth rate of bulls but the meat quality of steers. Of 50 crossbred bulls, 20 were castrated at 10 months-of age (steers) and 20 castrated at 17 months-of age (castrates). One month after the latter castration, all animals commenced a 100 day finishing period and were slaughtered at the end. Ten steers and 10 castrates were fed a diet of 50% barley : 50% silage while the rest grazed brassica crop and pasture. Bulls were 20 kg heavier than steers at post-pubertal castration (388

GP, Cosgrove, TW Knight, MG Lambert, and AF Death

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 56, , 390-393, 1996