Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T03:31:16.441Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of different levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antibody titres on plasma hormone concentrations, sexual and aggressive behaviour, testis size and performance of bulls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. Finnerty ,
W. J. Enright ,
D. J. Prendiville ,
L. J. Spicer  and
J. F. Roche
M. Finnerty
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Grange Research Centre, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
W. J. Enright
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Grange Research Centre, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
D. J. Prendiville
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Grange Research Centre, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
L. J. Spicer
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
J. F. Roche
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
Get access

Abstract

To determine the effect of different levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antibody titres (AT) on plasma hormone concentrations, behaviour, testes size and performance, Friesian bull calves (no. = 72) were immunized against either human serum albumin (HSA) conjugated to Cys-Gly-GnRH (no. = 48; immunized) or HSA (no. = 24; controls) at 8 to 10 weeks of age. One booster immunization was administered on either day 28 or 56 (no. = 24 GnRH-immunized and no. = 12 control per booster day). Based on AT 1 week post respective booster, 12 immunized and six control bulls were allocated to one of three AT groups, control (C), medium (M) and high (H) with mean AT of 0·3 (s.e. 0·1), 32 (s.e. 2) and 51 (s.e. 2)% binding at a plasma dilution of 1: 160; respectively. Bulls were blood sampled and weighed every 14 days, and testicular measurements taken every 28 days, from days 0 to 533. Behaviour was observed for 4 h once weekly while bulls were together at pasture and, within AT group, for 20 min 1 week before slaughter. At slaughter, testes and carcass measurements were made. Appropriate data were analysed by ANOVA and correlation coefficients (i) determined. Behavioural data were analysed using x2. Mean AT for M and H treatment groups during the experiment were 36·5 and 44·8% binding at a 1: 160 dilution (P > 0·05, pooled s.e.d. 5·9%), respectively. Level of AT decreased (P < 0·05) mean testosterone concentrations (1·74, 1·36 and 1·21 (s.e.d. 0·17) ng/ml for the C, M and H treatment groups, respectively) and testes size (e.g. length, 10·0, 8·9 and 8·1 (s.e.d. OS) cm) in the M and H groups compared with the C bulls. There was no effect of AT level on luteinizing hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations or on average daily gain. Bulls in the M group had the lightest testes and lowest masculinity score compared with the C and H groups (both P < 0·05). Bulls in the H group had greater backfat thickness than the C bulls (P < 0·05). Bulls in the M and H groups were less aggressive and sexually active than the C bulls (P < 0·05). In conclusion, GnRH AT in both the M and H groups persisted for the duration of the experiment, and these AT were significantly different for a critical period pre-puberty; however they both had similar effects and caused extended periods of reduced testes growth, testosterone concentrations, and aggressive and sexual behaviour compared with C bulls but there was no detrimental effect of AT on growth or carcass characteristics.

Keywords

behaviourbullscarcass compositionGnRHperformance
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 63 , Issue 1 , August 1996 , pp. 51 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, T. E. and Adams, B. M. 1992. Feedlot performance of steers and bulls actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Journal of Animal Science 70: 1691–1698.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Adams, T. E., Daley, C. A., Adams, B. M. and Sakurai, H. 1993. Testis function and feedlot performance of bulls actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone: effect of implants containing progesterone and estradiol benzoate. Journal of Animal Science 71: 811–817.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Albert, D. J., Jonik, R. H., Watson, N. V., Gorzalka, B. B. and Walsh, M. L. 1990. Hormone-dependent aggression in male rats is proportional to serum testosterone concentration but sexual behaviour is not. Physiology and Behaviour 48: 409–416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Altmann, J. 1974. Observational study of behaviour: sampling methods. Behaviour 49: 227–267.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Amann, R. P., Wise, M. E., Glass, J. D. and Nett, T. M. 1986. Prepubertal changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of Holstein bulls. Biology of Reproduction 34: 71–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Appleby, M. C. 1986. Development of sexual and agonistic behaviour in bulls and steers. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 15: 190 (abstr.).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baker, A. M. and Gonyou, H. W. 1986. Effects of zeranol implantation and late castration on sexual, agonistic and handling behaviour in male feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 62: 1224–1232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bouissou, M. F. 1974. [Establishment of the dominance-submission relationship in the domestic bovine.] Annales de Biologie Animal, Biochemie et Biophysique 14: 383–410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, B. W., Mattner, P. E., Carroll, P. A., Holland, E. J., Paull, D. R., Hoskinson, R. M. and Rigby, R. D. G. 1994. Immunisation of sheep against GnRH early in life: effects on reproductive function and hormones in rams. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 101: 15–21.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Echternkamp, S. E., Spicer, L. J., Gregory, K. E., Canning, S. F. and Hammond, J. M. 1990. Concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I in blood and ovarian follicular fluid of cattle selected for twins. Biology ofReproduction 43: 8–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elsasser, T. H., Rumsey, T. S. and Hammond, A. C. 1989. Influence of diet on basal and growth hormone-stimulated plasma concentrations of IGF-I in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 67: 128–141.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finnerty, M., Enright, W. J., Morrison, C. A. and Roche, J. F. 1994. Immunization of bull calves with a GnRH analogue-human serum albumin conjugate: effect of conjugate dose, type of adjuvant and booster interval on immune, endocrine, testicular and growth responses. Journal ofReproduction and Fertility 101: 333–343.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finnerty, M., Enright, W. J. and Roche, J. F. 1995. Testosterone (T), LH and FSH episodic secretory patterns in control and GnRH-immunised bulls. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 15: 14 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Gill, J. J. 1978. Design and analysis of experiments in the animal and medical sciences, volume 1. Iowa State University Press, Ames, la.Google Scholar
Gonzalez, A., Goubau, S., Allen, A. F., Mapletoft, R. J., Cohen, R. and Murphy, B. D. 1990. The potential for castration of domestic animals by active immunisation against GnRH. Livestock reproduction in Latin America. Proceedings of the final research co-ordination meeting, pp. 269–284. International Atomic Energy Agency, Austria.Google Scholar
Goubau, S. S., Silversides, D. W., Gonzalez, A., Laarveld, B., Mapletoft, R. J. and Murphy, B. D. 1989. Immunization of sheep against modified peptides of gonadotropin-releasing hormone conjugated to carriers. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 6: 339–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gregory, K. E. and Ford, J. J. 1983. Effects of late castration, zeranol and breed group on growth, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of late maturing bovine males. Journal ofAnimal Science 56: 771–780.Google Scholar
Hafez, E. S. E. and Schein, M. W. 1962. The behaviour of cattle. In The behaviour ofdomestic animals (ed. Hafez, E. S. E.), pp. 247–296. Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, London.Google Scholar
Handelsman, D. J., Spaliviero, J. A., Scott, C. D. and Baxter, R. C. 1985. Identification of insulin-like growth factor-I and its receptors in the rat testis. Endocrinology 109: 543–549.Google ScholarPubMed
Harte, J., Curran, S. and Vial, V. E. 1965. The production of beef from young bulls — I. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 4: 189–204.Google Scholar
Hinch, G. N., Lynch, J. J. and Thwaites, C. J. 1982/1983. Patterns and frequency of social interactions in young grazing bulls and steers. Applied Animal Ethology 9: 15–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jeffcoate, I. A. and Keeling, B. J. 1984. Active immunization against LHRH in the female. In Immunological aspects of reproduction in mammals (ed. Crighton, D. B.), pp. 363–377. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jeffcoate, I. A., Lucas, J. M. S. and Crighton, D. B. 1982. Effects of active immunisation of ram lambs and bull calves against synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Theriogenology 18: 65–77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, F. and Whalen, R. E. 1989. Aggression in male mice: rapid onset attack of lactating female mice following termination of hyperphysiological testosterone treatment. Physiology and Behaviour 46: 413–416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karg, H., Gimenez, M., Harte, M., Hoffman, B., Schallenberger, E. and Schams, D. 1976. Testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in peripheral plasma of bulls: levels from birth through puberty and short-term variations. Zentralblatt Veterinarmed Reihe A 23: 793–803.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lobley, G. E., Connell, A., Morris, B., Anderson, R., Clayton, J., Williams, P. E. V. and Nevison, I. M. 1992. The effect of active immunisation against gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone on growth performance and sample joint composition of bulls. Animal Production 55: 193–202.Google Scholar
McCarthy, M. S., Convey, E. M. and Hafs, H. D. 1979. Serum hormonal changes and testicular response to LH during puberty in bulls. Biology of Reproduction 20: 1221–1227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacDougall, D. B. and Jones, S. J. 1975. The use of a fibre optic probe for the detection of pale pork. Proceedings of the twenty-first European meeting of meat research workers, pp. 113–115.Google Scholar
Prendiville, D. J., Enright, W. J., Crowe, M. A., Finnerty, M., Hynes, N. and Roche, J. F. 1995. Immunization of heifers against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone: antibody titres, ovarian function, body growth and carcass characteristics. Journal of Animal Science 73: 2382–2389.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Price, E. O. and Wallach, S. J. R. 1991. Development of sexual and aggressive behaviours in Hereford bulls. Journal of Animal Science 69: 1019–1027.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Price, M. A. and Tennessen, T. 1981. Pre-slaughter management and dark-cutting in the carcasses of young bulls. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 61: 205–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rawlings, N. C., Hafs, H. D. and Swanson, L. V. 1972. Testicular and blood plasma androgens in Holstein bulls from birth through puberty. Journal of Animal Science 34: 435–440.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reinhardt, V., Mutiso, F. M. and Reinhardt, A. 1978. Social behaviour and social relationships between female and male prepubertal bovine calves (Bos indicus). Applied Animal Ethology 4: 43–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertson, I. S., Fraser, H. M., Innes, G. M. and Jones, A. S. 1982. The effect of immunological castration on sexual and production characteristics in male cattle. Veterinary Record 111: 529–531.Google ScholarPubMed
Robertson, I. S. and Lowman, B. G. 1977. Bull beef production from suckler herds of traditional breeds. Animal Production 24: 144 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Robertson, I. S., Wilson, J.C., Fraser, H. M., Innes, G. M. and Jones, A. S. 1984. Immunological castration of young bulls for beef production. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science 26: 137–145.Google Scholar
Ronge, H. and Blum, J. 1989. Insulin-like growth factor-I during growth in bulls. Reproduction Nutrition Development 29: 105–111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schanbacher, B. D. 1984a. Manipulation of endogenous and exogenous hormones for red meat production. Journal of Animal Science 59: 1621–1630.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schanbacher, B. D. 1984b. Active immunization against LHRH in the male. In Immunological aspects of reproduction in mammals (ed. Crighton, D. B.), pp. 345–362. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schneider, K. M. 1930. Das Flehmen I. Zoologische Garten.Google Scholar
Secchiari, P., Martorana, F., Pellegrini, S. and Luisi, M. 1976. Variation of plasma testosterone in developing Friesian bulls. Journal of Animal Science 42: 405–409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seideman, S.C., Cross, H. R., Oltjen, R. R. and Schanbacher, B. D. 1982. Utilization of the intact male for red meat production: a review. Journal of Animal Science 55: 826–840.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silversides, D. W., Allen, A. F., Misra, V., Qualtiere, L., Mapletoft, R. J. and Murphy, B. D. 1988. A synthetic LHRH vaccine. I. Conjugation and specificity trials in Balb/C mice. Journal of Reproductive Immunology 13: 249–261.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sundby, A. and Velle, W. 1980. Plasma concentrations of testosterone in young bulls in relation to age, rate of weight gain and stimulation with human chorionic gonadotrophin. Journal of Endocrinology 86: 465–469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swanson, L. V., Wettemann, R. P., Rawlings, N.C., Hafs, H. D. and Magee, W. T. 1971. Pubertal relationships of some endocrine and reproductive criteria in Hereford bulls. Journal of Animal Science 33: 823–828.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Unruh, J. A., Gray, D. G. and Dikeman, M. E. 1986. Implanting young' bulls with zeranol from birth to four slaughter ages: 1. Live measurements, behavior, masculinity and carcass characteristics. Journal of Animal Science 62: 279–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar