Holstein x Freisian beef cattle were monitored after castration by burdizzo (B), with or without anesthesia. Methods of anesthesia used included ketoprofen (K), local anesthesia (LA) or caudal epidural anesthesia (EPI). A control (C) treatment in which no anesthesia was used was also implemented. Effects on plasma cortisol, acute-phase proteins, interferon-ã production, growth, and behavior. K animals had a lower area under the cortisol curve against time than the other treatments. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations were lower on day 1 after castration for BK animals compared to B, BLA or BEPI animals. Haptoglobin and fibrinogen concentrations were higher in all castration groups on day 3 after castration than in group C. The same concentrations remained higher on day 7 for BLA animals than in B or C animals. Concanavalin A-induced interferon-ã production was lower on day 1 in B, BLA, and BEPI animals than in C, with no differences between C and BK treatments. ADG was lower from day 1 to 35 for B, BLA, and BEPI animals but not BK animals compared with C. There was a higher incidence of combined abnormal postures overall in B than in C, BK and BEPI animals. There was no difference between the K and EPI treatment. Conclusions stated that burdizzo castration increased plasma cortisol and acute-phase proteins and suppressed immune function and gains. Local anesthesia prolonged the increase in acute-phase proteins. Ketoprofen was more effective than LA or EPI in decreasing cortisol levels and was able to partially reverse the reduction in ADG after castration had been carried out. Pain-associated behavioral responses were decreased the most during the first 6 hours after castration with use of K or EPI rather than LA. Ketoprofen was more effective in reducing inflammatory responses associated with castration than LA or EPI.