Over 2 consecutive years, a total of 64 male beef calves (Limousin×Blonde d` Aquitaine and Aubrac×Blonde d` Aquitaine crossbreds) born in spring were examined in this study. At the end of the pasture season, when the calves were aged 6 to 7 months and weighed 253 kg(s.e.6.0kg)on average, thecow–calf pairs were moved from the pasture to the barn and kept in four straw-bedded compartments of equal sizes, thus each pen accommodated eight cow–calf pairs. After 1 week, which was defined as week 0, the 64 studied calves ( n = 32 per year) were assigned to a 2×2 factorial design with the two factors castration and weaning: (1) Castrated and concurrently weaned in week 0 (CAS-WEA); (2) castrated in week 0 and weaned in week 4 (CAS-CON); (3) bulls weaned in week 0 (BUL-WEA); and (4) bulls weaned in week 4 (BUL-CON).