Effect of dehorning and tipping on liveweight gain of mature Brahman crossbred steers

Abstract

The effects of dehorning and heavy tipping on the liveweight gains of mature Brahman crossbred steers in north Queensland were measured in two experiments. Both operations caused significant (P<0.01) depressions in liveweight gains in the month following the operations. Five months after the operations, dehorned steers had gained 10.2 kg (P<0.05) and 13.6 kg (P<0.01) less than horned steers in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. During this period tipped steers gained less (8.6 kg) (P<0.05) than horned steers in experiment 1 only. The significance of this depression in relation to level of bruising trim is discussed.