Effect of hemicastration on the level of testicular steroids and growth in bulls and boars

Ten, bull calves of the Norwegian Red breed were hemicastrated at the age of 1 1 2 -3 months . Ten, normal bull calves of similar age served as controls. No significant differences were found in plasma testosterone levels or in weight between the two groups during the ensuing seven-month test period. Eight, male pigs were hemicastrated at 1-2 months of age. Eight, normal male pigs served as controls. Plasma testosterone, androstenone, and body weight were measured fortnightly in all pigs until the age of 6-7 months. Androstenone in adipose tissue was measured from 4-5 months of age. No significant differences were found between normal and hemicastrated animals in any monthly interval. However, when combining the measurement at 5-6 and 6-7 months of age for plasma testosterone and 5alpha-androstenone and 5alpha-androstenone in fat, the normal pigs had significantly higher values than the hemicastrates (p<0.05). The weight of the single testis from the hemicastrated pigs at slaughter nearly equalled the combined weight of both testes from the controls. Thus, hemicastration did not appear to have any significant effect on the level of testicular steroids in plasma in bulls or growth rate in bulls and boars, but did have a slight effect on testicular steroids in plasma in pigs at 5-7 months of age.