Protein-bound and unbound forms of plasma cortisol in piglets after castration at seven or 14 days of age.

Male piglets from seven litters were used to evaluate the long-term effects of castration and age at castration on the concentrations of cortisol and its distribution in peripheral plasma. The piglets were allotted to one of three groups of 12 animals according to whether they had been castrated at seven or 14 days old or left intact. The animals were weighed and blood samples were collected from the anterior vena cava at three, seven, 10, 14, 17, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of age.