Efficacy and Stress of Chemical Versus Surgical Castration of Cattle

Cohen, R. D. H.; King, B. D.; Thomas, L.; Janzen, E. D.

doi:10.4141/cjas90-129

Cited by 57 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Surgical castration is generally followed by a period of reduced BW gain, the severity of which is usually related to the age of the animal at the time of the procedure (Bretschneider, 2005;Stafford and Mellor, 2005b;AVMA, 2011a). Losses in ADG after surgical castration tend to be greatest during the first 7 d after the procedure although cumulative ADG may be reduced through 27 to 35 d (Cohen et al, 1990;Fisher et al, 1996;Coetzee, 2013). The results of our study followed that pattern, with no significant BW change detected over the 7 d after the single castration procedure in either Period 1 (CAST 1 ) or Period 2 (CAST 2 ) but with a significant BW gain of the CAST 1 group during the interim between procedures.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Comparative effects of castration and dehorning in series or concurrent castration and dehorning procedures on stress responses and production in Holstein calves1

Mosher

Wang

Allen

et al. 2013

Journal of Animal Science

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The study objective was to compare serum cortisol as an acute stress measure, chute exit velocity as a behavioral measure, and ADG as an indicator of performance and well-being after castration, dehorning, or concurrent castration/dehorning of calves when performed in parallel and in series. Intact male Holstein calves, 3 to 4 mo, underwent sham handling before 2 procedures performed in series separated by 2 to 3 wk. In Period 1, calves were either dehorned by amputation, surgically castrated, concurrently castrated/ dehorned, or served as nonsurgical controls (n = 10/treatment). In Period 2, calves that had been dehorned, castrated, or castrated/dehorned were then castrated, dehorned, or served as nonsurgical controls, respectively. Indicators of distress were measured after all procedures; ADG was assessed for 7 d after each procedure and over the 2 to 3 wk interim. Period 1 cortisol concentrations in dehorned calves were less than in castrated and castrated/dehorned calves at 120 min and from 50 to 240 min, respectively (P < 0.02). There was marginal evidence that cortisol concentrations were greater in castrated/dehorned than castrated calves at 60 min (P = 0.06). Period 2 cortisol concentrations were less in dehorned than castrated calves at 120 min (P = 0.005) but were greater from 360 to 480 min (P < 0.002). The Period 2 cortisol profile of control calves did not differ from the baseline obtained during sham handling, despite the intervening castration/dehorning in Period 1, suggesting that memory did not affect cortisol. The cortisol profile of castrated calves did not differ between periods except at 720 min, when Period 1 concentrations were greater than Period 2 (P = 0.02). Cortisol concentrations of calves dehorned in Period 2 were greater than those dehorned in Period 1 at 20 and 240 to 480 min (P < 0.05). In both periods, castrated calves exited the chute slower than dehorned calves (P < 0.05). The ADG did not differ between surgically treated calves in Period 1; in the interim, the ADG of castrated calves was greater than that of castrated/dehorned calves (difference ± SED, 1.4 ± 0.6 kg/d; P = 0.03), and in Period 2, the ADG of dehorned calves was less than castrated calves (1.8 ± 0.6 kg/d; P = 0.005). Our study supports both the common practice of concurrent castration/dehorning and the sequence of dehorning and castration. Delayed dehorning (vs. delayed castration) appeared to be more acutely stressful and more detrimental to ADG. ABSTRACT:The study objective was to compare serum cortisol as an acute stress measure, chute exit velocity as a behavioral measure, and ADG as an indicator of performance and well-being after castration, dehorning, or concurrent castration/dehorning of calves when performed in parallel and in series. Intact male Holstein calves, 3 to 4 mo, underwent sham handling before 2 procedures performed in series separated by 2 to 3 wk. In Period 1, calves were either dehorned by amputation, surgically castrated, concurrently castrated/ dehorned, or served as nonsurgical...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Comparative effects of castration and dehorning in series or concurrent castration and dehorning procedures on stress responses and production in Holstein calves1

Mosher

Wang

Allen

et al. 2013

Journal of Animal Science

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“…As mean values were, however, within normal ranges (PCV 24-46% and TP 57-81 g/L; Radostits et al, 2007), these increases are of little biological significance. Other work has found TP and PCV to be unaffected by surgical or chemical castration (Cohen et al, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare outcomes for 3- and 6-month-old beef calves in a tropical environment castrated surgically or by applying rubber rings

Petherick

Small

Reid³

et al. 2015

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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a b s t r a c tCastration of cattle using rubber rings is becoming increasingly popular due to the perceived ease of the procedure and greater operator safety when compared with surgical castration. Few comparative studies have investigated the effects of different castration methods and calf age on welfare outcomes, particularly in a tropical environment. Thirty Belmont Red (a tropically adapted breed), 3-month-old (liveweight 71-119 kg) and 30, 6-month-old (liveweight 141-189 kg) calves were assigned to a two age × three castration (surgical, ring and sham) treatment factorial study (Surg3, Surg6, Ring3, Ring6, Sham3 and Sham6, n = 10 for each treatment group). Welfare outcomes were assessed post-castration using: behaviour for 2 weeks; blood parameters (cortisol and haptoglobin concentrations) to 4 weeks; wound healing to 5 weeks; and liveweights to 6 weeks. More Surg calves struggled during castration compared with Sham and Ring (P < 0.05, 90 ± 7% vs. 20 ± 9% and 24 ± 10%) and performed more struggles (1.9 ± 0.2, 1.1 ± 0.3 and 1.1 ± 0.3 for Surg, Sham and Ring, respectively), suggesting that surgical castration caused most pain during performance of the procedure. A significant (P < 0.05) time × castration method × age interaction for plasma cortisol revealed that concentrations decreased most rapidly in Sham; the Ring6 calves failed to show reduced cortisol concentrations at 2 h post-castration, unlike other treatment groups. By 7 h post-castration, all treatment groups had similar concentrations. A significant (P < 0.01) interaction between time and castration method showed that haptoglobin concentrations increased slightly to 0.89 and 0.84 mg/mL for Surg and Ring, respectively over the first 3 days post-castration. Concentrations for Surg then decreased to levels similar to Sham by day 21 and, although concentrations for Ring decreased on day 7 to 0.76 mg/mL, they increased significantly on day 14 to 0.97 mg/mL before reducing to concentrations similar to the other groups (0.66 mg/mL) by day 21. Significantly (P < 0.05) more of the wounds of the 3-month compared with the 6-month calves scored as 'healed' at day 7 (74% vs. 39%), while more (P = 0.062) of the Surg than Ring scored as 'healed' at day 21 (60% vs. 29%). At day 14 there were significantly (P < 0.05) fewer healed wounds in Ring6 compared with other treatment groups (13% vs. 40-60%). Liveweight gain was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in 3-month (0.53 kg/day) than in 6-month calves (0.44 kg/day) and in Sham calves (P < 0.001, 0.54 kg/day), than in Ring (0.44 kg/day) and Surg (0.48 kg/day) calves. Overall, welfare outcomes were slightly better for Surg than Ring calves due to reduced inflammation and faster wound healing, with little difference between age groups. Crown

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“…The cortisol response to stress has frequently been measured in ruminants. While it is clear that cortisol levels are elevated in response to stress, there is disagreement as to whether or not the elevation is proportional to the degree of stress (Friend et al 1985;Mellor and Murray 1989;Cohen et al 1990;Rushen and de Passillé 1992). Furthermore, plasma cortisol levels are elevated after either physical or psychological stress (Hashizume et al 1994).…”

Section: Mots Clésmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortisol and β-endorphin responses to physical and psychological stressors in lambs

Mears¹,

Brown²

1997

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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. 1997. Cortisol and ␤-endorphin responses to physical and psychological stressors in lambs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 77: 689-694. Plasma cortisol, β-endorphin, T3 and T4 were determined in lambs before, during and after exposure to stress in order to evaluate the potential use of these hormones to objectively measure stress responses. Lambs were exposed to tail-docking, castration, weaning, isolation, and restraint stress. Twelve ewe and 24 ram lambs were assigned to the experiment, with 12 of the ram lambs surgically castrated when 3-wk old. Tail docking within 24 h of birth did not (P > 0.05) elevate either plasma cortisol or β-endorphin. Castration markedly elevated (P < 0.001) plasma cortisol and β-endorphin within 15 min of surgery. Both hormones were highly elevated for the first 4 h . Plasma cortisol returned to control levels by 24 h whereas β-endorphin was still elevated (P < 0.05) 24 h after castration. Plasma cortisol levels were elevated for the first 60 min following weaning (P < 0.005) and again at 24 h after dam removal (P < 0.001). Plasma β-endorphin was not elevated (P > 0.05) any time during the 72 h following weaning. Plasma cortisol (P < 0.001) and β-endorphin (P < 0.05) were elevated during the first 60 min following the start of 1 h of isolation. Results were similar for partial and total isolation. No effects of isolation were found for the next 23 h. Plasma cortisol (P < 0.005) was elevated during the first 30 min following 4 min of shearing-like restraint, whereas plasma β-endorphin was elevated only at 7 min (P < 0.05) after restraint began. No further effects of restraint were found prior to termination of sample collection at 24 h. None of the stressors employed affected plasma concentrations of T3 and T4. This study has shown that measurements of plasma cortisol and β-endorphin in blood samples obtained before, during and after stress are useful in assessing stress in lambs. The painful stressor, castration, induced marked and prolonged elevations of both hormones, whereas psychological stressors elicited graded, short-term cortisol responses and limited β-endorphin responses.Key words: Cortisol, β-endorphin, physical stress, psychological stress, lambs Mears, G. J. et Brown, F. A. 1997. Réponse du cortisol et de la ␤-endorphine aux stressants physiques et psychologiques chez les agneaux. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 77: 689-694. Nous avons suivi les niveaux plasmatiques de cortisol, de β-endorphine, de T3 et de T4 chez les agneaux avant, pendant et après une exposition aux stress afin d'évaluer les possibilités d'utilisation de ces hormones comme mesure objective des réponses au stress. Des agneaux étaient exposés à la caudectomie, à la castration, au sevrage, à l'isolement et à la contention. Douze agneaux femelles et 24 agneaux mâles étaient utilisés, dont 12 agneaux mâles étaient castrés par voie chirurgicale à l'âge de 3 semaines. La caudectomie réalisée dans les 24 heures suivant la naissance ne causait pas de relèvement (P > 0,05) des niveaux plasmatiques de cortisol ou de β-endorphine. En r...

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Efficacy and Stress of Chemical Versus Surgical Castration of Cattle

Abstract: . 1990. Efficacy and stress of chemical vetsus surgical castration of cattle. Can. J. Anim. Illood rvas collected at 0, 3, 6, 12,24,36 and

Cited by 57 publications

References 14 publications

Comparative effects of castration and dehorning in series or concurrent castration and dehorning procedures on stress responses and production in Holstein calves1

Comparative effects of castration and dehorning in series or concurrent castration and dehorning procedures on stress responses and production in Holstein calves1

Welfare outcomes for 3- and 6-month-old beef calves in a tropical environment castrated surgically or by applying rubber rings

Cortisol and β-endorphin responses to physical and psychological stressors in lambs

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