Castration is the removal or destruction of the testicles, by either surgical or nonsurgical methods. Once castrated, the male calf is referred to as a steer. Beef from steers is preferred over beef from bulls because castration improves the color, texture, tenderness, and juiciness of the meat. And cow-calf producers and stocker operators benefit from castrating bulls because the market pays a premium for steers (usually $2 to $6/cwt), partly because of consumer preference and partly because of their quieter disposition and ease of handling in the feed yard. The negative side of castration is that bulls naturally have faster growth rates, better feed efficiencies, and higher carcass cutabilities than steers.
Bull calves should be castrated as soon after birth as possible. You can castrate newborn calves when they are ear tagged and implanted. In some herds, it will not be practical to castrate that early if herd sire prospects are not selected until weaning. However, older and heavier bulls generally bleed more, and suffer more setback. The best seasons to castrate are spring and fall because flies and maggots are less abundant, so they are less likely to increase irritation and infection of the wound. Avoid castrating during periods of intense heat or on cold, wet days. All bull calves should be vaccinated with tetanus anti-toxin when castrated.
Source: Dave Prichard, Ronnie Hartzog, Sharon Fox Gamble and Ed Jennings – University of Florida IFAS Extension