Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T09:40:06.917Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of immunocastration 7 weeks before slaughter on the behaviour, growth and meat quality of post-pubertal bulls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

J. G. Jago ,
L. R. Matthews ,
T. E. Trigg ,
P. Dobbie  and
J. J. Bass
J. G. Jago
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
L. R. Matthews
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
T. E. Trigg
Affiliation:
Peptide Technology Limited PO Box 444 (4-10 Inman Road), Dee Why, NSW2099, Australia
P. Dobbie
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
J. J. Bass
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand
Get access

Abstract

Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), commonly known as immunocastration, has been proposed as an alternative to traditional methods of castrating bulls. This study evaluated the effects of immunocastration on growth, behaviour and meat quality of post-pubertal bulls. Bulls were either vaccinated against GnRH (no. = 30, I) or left intact (no. = 30, B). A third treatment consisted of steers (no. = 20, S) that had been castrated pre-pubertally. The animals were run in eight single treatment groups (no. = 10 per group), three of each of В and I and two groups of S. Anti-GnRH antibodies developed and plasma testosterone concentrations declined in I following immunization. Aggressive behaviour of I declined to be lower (P < 0·5) than B and no different from S, 5 weeks after primary immunization. Seven weeks after immunocastration all animals were slaughtered. The hot carcass weight of I was between that of B and S but not significantly different from either. There were no effects of treatment on pHu or meat colour measurements. Taste panel assessment rated I higher than B, but lower than S for tenderness, juiciness and overall palatability. These results demonstrate that immunocastration of post-pubertal bulls 7 weeks before slaughter is a potential means of reducing problematic bull behaviour and improving meat quality although this is likely to be at the cost of reduced weight gain.

Keywords

behaviourbullsgrowth rateimmunocastrationmeat quality
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 68 , Issue 1 , February 1999 , pp. 163 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

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

Adams, T. E. and Adams, B. M. 1992. Feedlot performance of steers and bulls actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Journal of Animal Science 70: 1691–1698.Google Scholar
Arthaud, V. H., Mandigo, R. W., Koch, R. M. and Kotula, A. W. 1977. Carcass composition, quality and palatability attributes of bulls and steers fed different energy levels and killed at four ages. Journal of Animal Science 44: 53–64.Google Scholar
Baker, A. M. and Gonyou, H. W. 1986. Effects of Zeronal implantation and late castration on sexual, agonistic and handling behaviour in male feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 62: 1224–1232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bhattacharyya, G. K. and Johnson, R. A. 1977. Statistical concepts and methods. John Wiley and Sons, New York, USA.Google Scholar
Blockey, M. A. de B. and Galloway, D. B. 1978. Hormonal control of serving capacity in bulls. Theriogenology 9: 143–151.Google Scholar
Boccard, R. L., Naude, R. T., Cronje, D. E., Smith, M. C., Venter, H. J. and Rossouw, E. J. 1979. The influence of age, sex and breed of cattle on their muscle characteristics. Meat Science 3: 261–280.Google Scholar
Brower, G. R. and Kiracofe, G. H. 1978. Factors associated with the buller-steer syndrome. Journal of Animal Science 46: 26–31.Google Scholar
Carson, A., McCaughey, W. J. and Steen, R. W. J. 1992. Active immunization of young male calves and post-pubertal bulls against LHRH with various conjugate doses. Animal Production 54: 465 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Cross, H. R., Schanbacher, B. D. and Crouse, J. D. 1984. Sex, age and breed related changes in bovine testosterone and intramuscular collagen. Meat Science 10: 187–195.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Devine, C. E., Hagyard, C. J., Cummings, T. L., Martin, A. H. and Waller, J. E. 1990. New Zealand consumers’ perception of lamb tenderness. Proceedings of the twenty-sixth conference of the meat industry of New Zealand, Hamilton, New Zealand.Google Scholar
D’Occhio, M. J. 1993. Immunological suppression of reproductive functions in male and female mammals. Animal Reproduction Science 33: 345–372.Google Scholar
Enright, W. J., Prendiville, D. J., Finnerty, M., Spicer, L. J., Crowe, M. A. and Roche, J. F. 1994. Comparison of GnRH-immunized post-pubertal bulls with contemporary steers and intact bulls: plasma testosterone and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and performance. Journal of Animal Science 72: (suppl. 1) 325 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Field, R. A. 1971. Effect of castration on meat quality and quantity. Journal of Animal Science 32: 849–858.Google Scholar
Finnerty, M., Enright, W. J., Prendiville, D. J., Spicer, L. J. and Roche, J. F. 1996. The effect of different levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antibody titres on plasma hormone concentrations, sexual and aggressive behaviour, testis size and performance of bulls. Animal Science 63: 51–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, A. D., Crowe, M. A., Alonso de la Varga, M. E. and Enright, W. J. 1996. Effect of castration method and the provision of local anesthesia on plasma cortisol, scrotal circumference, growth, and feed intake of bull calves. Journal of Animal Science 74: 2336–2343.Google Scholar
Gerrard, D. E., Jones, S. J., Aberle, E. D., Lemenager, R. P., Diekman, M. A. and Judge, M. D. 1987. Collagen stability, testosterone secretion and meat tenderness in growing bulls and steers. Journal of Animal Science 65: 1236–1242.Google Scholar
Gregory, K. E. and Ford, J. J. 1983. Effects of late castration, zeranol and breed group on growth, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of late maturing bovine males. Journal of Animal Science 56: 771–780.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hinch, G. N., Lynch, J. J. and Thwaites, C. J. 1982/83. Patterns and frequency of social interactions in young grazing bulls and steers. Applied Animal Ethology 9: 15–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoskinson, R. M., Rigby, R. D. G., Mattner, P. E., Huynh, V. C., D’Occhio, M., Neish, A., Trigg, T. E., Moss, B. A., Lindsey, M. J., Coleman, G. D. and Schwartzkoff, C. L. 1990. Vaxstrate®: an anti-reproductive vaccine for cattle. Australian Journal of Biotechnology 4: 166–170.Google ScholarPubMed
Jacobs, J. A., Miller, J. C., Sauter, E. A., Howes, A. D., Araji, A. A., Gregory, T. L. and Hurst, C. E. 1977. Bulls versus steers. II. Palatability and retail acceptance. Journal of Animal Science 45: 699–702.Google Scholar
Jago, J. G. 1997. The effects of active immunisation against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone on behaviour, reproductive physiology, growth and meat quality in male cattle. Ph.D. thesis, University of Waikato. Google Scholar
Jago, J. G., Cox, N. R., Bass, J. J. and Matthews, L. R. 1997. The effect of prepubertal immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone on the development of sexual and social behaviour of bulls. Journal of Animal Science 75: 2609–2619.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jago, J. G., Matthews, L. R., Bass, J. J. and Knight, T. W. 1996. A comparison of two methods of castration of postpubertal beef cattle and their effect on behaviour, growth and ultimate pH. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 56: 394–397.Google Scholar
Jeremiah, L. E., Newman, J. A., Tong, A. K. W. and Gibson, L. L. 1988. The effects of castration, preslaughter stress and zeranol implants on beef. 2. Cooking properties and flavour on loin steaks from bovine males. Meat Science 22: 103–121.Google Scholar
Lawes Agricultural Trust. 1993. Genstat 5.3. Rothamsted Experimental Station, UK.Google Scholar
Lobley, G. E., Connell, A., Morris, A., Anderson, R., Clayton, J., Williams, P. E. V. and Nevison, I. M. 1992. The effect of active immunization against GnRH on growth performance and sample joint composition of bulls. Animal Production 55: 193–202.Google Scholar
Martin, P. and Bateson, P. 1986. Measuring behaviour. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Mohan Raj, A. B. 1988. Biochemical, physiological and behavioural parameters as determinants of meat quality. Ph.D. thesis, Queen’s University of Belfast. Google Scholar
Riley, R. R., Savell, J. W., Murphey, C. E., Smith, G. C., Stiffler, D. M. and Cross, H. R. 1983. Palatability of beef from steer and young bull carcasses as influenced by electrical stimulation, subcutaneous fat thickness and marbling. Journal of Animal Science 56: 592–597.Google Scholar
Robertson, I. S., Fraser, H. M., Innés, G. M. and Jones, A. S. 1982. Effect of immunological castration on sexual and production characteristics in male cattle. Veterinary Record 111: 529–531.Google Scholar
Robertson, I. S., Wilson, J. C. and Fraser, H. M. 1979. Immunological castration in male cattle. Veterinary Record 105: 556–557.Google Scholar
Seideman, S. C., Cross, H. R., Oltjen, R. R. and Schanbacher, B. D. 1982. Utilisation of the intact male for red meat production: a review. Journal of Animal Science 55: 826–840.Google Scholar
Teague, G. L., Boyd, G. W., Smith, G. C., Finnerty, M., Rollin, B. E., Field, T. G., Grandin, T., Kniffen, D. M., Taylor, R. E. and Enright, W. J. 1992. A comparison of carcass characteristics and overall lean meat production efficiency between bovine immunocastrates, steers and intact males. Proceedings of the western section of the American Society of Animal Science, vol. 43, pp. 147–150.Google Scholar
Unruh, J. A., Gray, D. G. and Dikeman, M. E. 1986. Implanting young bulls with zeranol from birth to four slaughter ages. 1. Live measurements, behaviour, masculinity and carcass characteristics. Journal of Animal Science 62: 279–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vanderwert, W., Berger, L. L., McKeith, F. K., Baker, A. M., Gonyou, H. W. and Bechtel, P. J. 1985. Influence of Zeranol implants on growth, behaviour and carcass traits in Angus and Limousin bulls and steers. Journal of Animal Science 61: 310–319.Google Scholar