CASTRATING CALVES AND LAMBS

CASTRATING CALVES AND LAMBS

Castration means the process of rendering the animal ineffective for breeding. Unless required for breeding purposes, male calves, ram lambs and buck kids should be castrated early in life; the best age is 8 to 10 weeks for calves and one to two weeks for lambs and kids.

The main reasons for castrating are to make the animal docile, to produce more desirable carcass and to increase body weight gain.

A number of methods are in use. Castration may be done with a knife, a Burdizzo or an elastrator. Since it is preferable to use bloodless methods, therefore, details of only such methods are given below:

BURDIZZO CASTRATOR

It has been named after its inventor, Dr. Burdizzo (an Italian). In using this method it is important that the cord does not slip out, that only one cord is clamped at a time and that there should be no interference with the circulation of blood. The testicles are made functionless through destroying their channels of nourishment. Complete atrophy of the testicles follows in about six weeks.

Procedure

Make the animal lie down on its side. Make sure that the place is properly bedded. Control the head and legs of the animal and work the cord to the side of the scrotum. Clamp the Burdizzo about 4 cm above the testicles where it is held for a few seconds. As a precaution repeat this operation on the same cord at a location about ½ to 1 cm removed from the first one. Repeat the same procedure on the other testicle.

ELASTRATOR

The elastrator is an instrument employed to stretch tight rubber-bands used for castrating and docking of animals. The band fits tightly around the scrotum/tail. The circulation is shut off and the testicles/tail gradually dry/dries and drop(s) off.

The elastrator is the invention of A.O. Hammond, a sheep farmer of Blenheim. New Zealand.

Procedure

Hold the animal in either a sitting or lying position. Set the specially designed rubber-band (ring) on the jaws of the elastrator. Stretch the band sufficiently so that both the testicles can be pressed through it, releasing it there at the base of the scrotum near the abdomen. Within a weak or so the process of castration is completed. Watch for extraordinary swelling/wound and fly strike.

EXERCISES

1.                  Discuss the principle on which the use of an elastrator ring is based.

2.                  Name the persons who invented Burdizzo castrator and elastrator, respectively.

3.                  What precautions do we need to observe during the use of Burdizzo castrator?

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