Castration is an integral part of the livestock industry. Calves destined for market are castrated for various reasons. First, it eliminates the possibility of unwanted reproduction in a power environment. Castration will also provide a more tender, marbled meat product and decrease aggression in male cattle. There are various ways to castrate an animal, including banding, surgical castration, and chemical castration. For this study, the goal is to investigate whether or not the skill level and training of the person performing the procedure correlates with infection rates, rate of return to feed, and overall performance of castrated calves. There is a common theme among researchers and industry professionals that surgical castration, in which the testicles are physically removed using a blade, is better for both animal welfare and health. In a 2010 survey of bovine veterinarians, 57% said that surgical castration with a scalpel was the best method of castration in young stocker calves (Coetzee et al., 2010). Therefore, our study will adhere to these recommendations...