Many animal owners have heard that their male dog, cat, or colt shouldn't be castrated until it's “older,” so as to encourage proper growth. A study from the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment in France sought to determine the impact of early castration on a foal's physical and behavioral development.
Colts are typically gelded between six and 18 months old, often to make them easier to handle and manage.
Dr. Juliette Cognie and colleagues used 22 male Welsh ponies from an experimental herd; 11 ponies were gelded at three days of age, while the other 11 were gelded as yearlings up to 18 months old.
All horses were gelded under general anesthesia and a primary closure technique was used.
The research team reported that the foals were readily accepted by their dams and none displayed any behavioral issues, like refusal to nurse, after the surgery.
The scientists followed the progress of each pony until it was three years old, recording weight and body size monthly for eight months and then at routine intervals. The ponies were assessed for behavior at one and three years old.
The team concluded that no significant differences in physical or behavioral development could be found between the ponies that were gelded as neonates or those gelded as yearlings.
Read more at Equine Science Update.
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