In two experiments, calves purchased as steers gained substantially faster than calves purchased as bulls and then castrated, during both the starting period and the subsequent growing period. Large-framed calves gained .22 lb per day faster, and small-framed calves .21 lb per day slower, than medium-framed calves. Cattle appearing gaunt at the start of the trial gained 1.33 lb per day less than those with average gut fill.