When can you castrate a bull or bull calf?

Answer 1

This all depends on the producer. Some like to castrate a bull calf when they're barely a few days old because this immediately inhibits the bull calf's testosterone production, and also prevents any accidental breeding if the herd is particularly fertile. Castrating early is also much less stressful and less painful for the calf than if it were done later.

However, other producers like to wait to castrate their bull calves to take advantage of the added growth potential that bulls have over steers, and consequently make for higher weaning weights (and more profit) when they're sold later on after being backgrounded. But, castrating later can make it more stressful for the weaner bull-turned-steer calf because of not only the stress of being separated from his mother, but also the pain that he experiences, making him eat less and gain less during this period, making him more susceptible to illnesses like pneumonia or shipping fever.