Immunocastration effect on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of feedlot cattle

Abstract

The castration of cattle destined for slaughter aims to reduce aggressiveness and improve meat quality, enhancing the degree of carcass fat end point. On the other hand, surgical castration can cause several inconveniences such as difficulties with handling related to post-surgical bandages, weight loss besides suffering and animal pain. Society conception of content of ethical and moral character regarding treatment given to animals has constantly been broadened. The practices that cause pain, such as castration, have conveyed negative impression and thus a claim has been made so that more humanitarian and respectable techniques are developed in order to provide animals with comfort and well-being. Immunocastration is an immunological suppression of sex hormone production performed by means of vaccination using the anti-GnRF principle. It's a painless and non-invasive practice which causes temporary infertilization in animals. This method is well-studied and applied in the swine species. Concerning cattle, there aren´t any scientific reports available in literature dealing with cross-bred animals or confined beef cattle. The use of such a vaccine in Nelore catlle and cross-bred cattle ½Nelore ½ Angus is expected to produce desired effects on the improvement of meat quality which are equivalent or superior to those effects provoked by surgical castration. Hence, it is proposed in this project that the effect of immunocastration on the performance parameters and meat quality be evaluated. (AU)