Abstract

CERVANTES-CAZARES, Jorge A. et al. Comparison of surgical castration at birth versus immunocastration on carcass and meat traits in growing Holstein males. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2020, vol.11, n.2, pp.455-467.  Epub Oct 23, 2020. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v11i2.4885.

Castration of male cattle affects carcass and meat traits. An evaluation was done of the effect of surgical castration at birth and immunocastration on carcass and meat traits in 7-8-mo-old male Holstein calves (average weight= 240.8 kg). Animals in the surgical castration treatment were castrated 24 h after birth, while those in the immunocastration treatment were administered doses of the Bopriva vaccine at 1, 21, 101 and 181 d of growth. Live weight was recorded in both groups at 21, 101 and 181 d, and carcass and meat traits were quantified after slaughter. The surgically-castrated animals exhibited higher average weight (P<0.05), and higher weight at slaughter. Cold carcass weight, hot carcass weight, ribeye area and subcutaneous fat thickness were all higher in the surgically-castrated animals (P<0.05). No differences between treatments were found in meat pH and sheer force (P>0.05), but the b*, C* and H* values were higher in the IC animals (P<0.05). Castration at birth resulted in better average carcass weight and meat traits than immunocastration, but animal welfare must be considered when using surgical castration.

Keywords : Inmunocastration; Holstein males; Carcass evaluation.

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