TY - JOUR AU - Thurber, S. W. AU - Dunbar, J. R. AU - Smith, D. P. TI - Effects of castration age and diethylstilbestrol on weight gains in male calves JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 1966/10/01 VL - 20 IS - 10 SP - 12 EP - 14 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://www.ucanr.edu/sites/calagjournal/archive/?article=ca.v020n10p12 AB - Age at castration appears to influence growth rate of male cattle. The higher pre-weaning weight gains of bulls suggest that the male hormone is an influencing growth factor. However, post-weaning weight gains are lower in bulls castrated at eight months, which tends to nullify their pre-weaning advantage. Stress caused by the operation may have been a factor in this response. Differences in weight gains associated with diethylstilbestrol treatment were obtained whenever used in these tests. This is a progress report of experimental use of diethylstilbestrol in tests with early and late castrates to improve weight gains—a practice not presently recommended by the University of California.