Review: castration – animal welfare considerations

The castration of male cattle is an integral part of routine farm management. The nature and duration of an animal’s response to castration are dependent on a number of factors, including the method employed, the age of animals, the post-castration management, and whether or not pain relief is provided with the procedure. Scientific assessments of the impact of castration on cattle welfare, including pain and injury, stress, inflammation, immune, and production, are the subject of this review. The objectives of this review are to describe (1) the different methods of castration, (2) the pain responses associated with each of those methods, and (3) how age and pain mitigation strategies affect those responses. Research studies are presented that have addressed the challenges imposed by castration procedures on the welfare of cattle based on two main biological events: (1) the changes in biological functions required to cope with the procedure, and (2) the biological consequences to the animals. Indices of animal well-being are described that have objectively demonstrated: (1) the degree of noxiousness that an animal experiences following castration and the success of the coping mechanisms, and (2) the benefit of using pain management in modulating these responses.