The objective of the present study was to evaluate the behavioural effects of Burdizzocastration of crossbred beef calves when weaned and castrated separately (castrated8 weeks after weaning) or in combination. Over two consecutive years a total of 111Limousin × Simmental male calves were included in the study. At an age of 7 months calveswere randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups and either weaned in week-8 (Bull-8;N = 27); weaned in week-8 and castrated in week 0 (Cas-8; N = 26); weaned in week 0 (Bull-0; N = 29); or weaned and castrated in week 0 (Cas-0; N = 29). The behaviour of the calvesincluding the number of vocalisations and time spent feeding, lying and standing/walkingwas recorded during the first 3 days of week 0. Bull-8 and Cas-8 did not show any vocali-sation activity during the observation period. In contrast, Bull-0 and Cas-0, showed morethan 3 calls/10 min period on the first day, which decreased steadily until the third day inboth groups. In all groups the time spent feeding increased from day 1 to 3. Bull-8 animalsdid not vary their standing/walking and lying behaviour, but Cas-8 increased the time spentstanding/walking and decreased lying. Bull-0 decreased the proportion of standing/walkingfrom approximately 60 to 40% and increased lying from 23 to more than 30%. A similar rateof change with standing/walking decreasing from 70 to 50% and lying increasing from 12to 20% was noted in Cas-0. Compared to bulls, castrates spent more time standing/walkingand less lying. From week-8 to 0, Bull-8 and Cas-8 gained about 700 g/d, whereas the 2other groups gained more than 1.000 g/d. Average daily gains from week 0–3 of Cas-8 werelower than in the other groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Burdizzo castration did not causeconsiderable effects on the behaviour, whereas weaning had a pronounced impact. Thecombination of both management procedures did not intensify the behavioural responses.Therefore, it can be recommended for economical reasons (i.e. labour costs) to conductcastration and weaning in steer production systems at the same time.