Background: The impact of very early castration of foals has not yet been studied despite the many positive effects observed in dogs and cats.
Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare castration at 3 days and 18 months and assess their subsequent morphological and behavioural development.
Study design: This was a randomised, blinded clinical study.
Methods: Twenty-two Welsh ponies underwent either early (3-day old, EC group, n = 11) or traditional (18-month old, TC group, n = 11) castration. Animals were followed up to 3 years of age. All ponies were castrated using a primary closure technique under general anaesthesia. Weight and morphometric measurements were monitored monthly from birth until 8 months of age in both groups. Then, measurements were taken every 3 months until 2 years of age and then every 6 months until 3 years of age. Temperament tests were performed on all animals when they were 1- and 3-years old.
Results: No differences were observed between the EC and TC groups in terms of physical development from birth until 40 months of age or in terms of temperament and behaviour at either 1 or 3 years of age.
Main limitations: The study included only one breed (Welsh ponies) and only 22 animals that were castrated before 2 years of age, precluding comparison with castration performed at older ages.
Conclusions: We demonstrate that early castration at 3 days does not interfere with morphological or behavioural development.
Keywords: castration; development; foal; horse; morphometric; temperament.
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