Castrating bulls - Any thoughts on the best method?

[Liz]

Any thoughts on the best method of castrating bull calves, and also the best timing?

I'm a relatively new Dexter owner, and have so far not used the ring method (except on sheep). Some people seem to find this the least distressing and therefore most effective way, (obviously must be done in the first week of life). On the other hand, I have also been advised that this is the most painful for the animal. It isn't always an option anyway - one of my calves was premature and quite weak when born, so I didn't want to damage his chances further by ringing him.

I have generally had mine cut (although the latest one has gone septic and all very nasty. More than one vets' visit and an awful lot of discomfort for the poor beast. Still not sorted.).

I haven't tried the burdizzo. The most negative thought on this seems to be that you can't be sure its worked.

As to timing - at least if they are cut - when do people generally think is best? My calves are born in late summer, and I delayed having them cut this year as I had so much trouble with flies. They were therefore 4 - 6 months old when castrated. Does this give them more or less of a setback than doing it earlier?

I'd welcome thoughts & comments.
Liz

[Duncan MacIntyre]

As a vet I think that cutting with a knife is by far the best provided proper facilities are there for the operation and afterwards. The animals must be clean, and the hands and instruments of the operator must be clean, and there must be very good bedding or clean dry lying area if outside. If the calves are getting larger there must be someone strong enough to hold the calf or even a crush if they are really big. Age can be anything from 1 week to 1 year, but if they are getting very old eg one which has been tried as a bull, then probably just as well to slaughter as a bull. Remember if they are over 2 months old in UK needs to be done by a vet. The down side to using a knife are possible bleeding, and infection. Both are very much less likely if the facilities are good - need not be fancy just clean and dry. In 30 years I am nut aware of any calf I have castrated bleeding to death, though it can happen. Occasionally if one jumps before I get enough of the cord separated one will bleed a little, but normally the only bleeding is from the skin incision only. The jumping is usually the result of inadequate restraint by whoever is assisting. As far as infection is concerned, if the operation is done in a hygeinic fashion the only real risk is bedding, mud shit etc getting onto the wound, and particulary when they are housed the operation should not be done unless there is a good dry clean bed for them to lie on. Some people talk of a condition called "gut tie" as a result of the cord recoiling after traction and coiling round intestine. I have only seen two animals in 30 years which looked like this, and one was an entire 3 yo limousin bull. He had adhesions restricting gut but obviously it did not result from catration, so I have doubts over the validity of "gut tie" being castration related.

I do own a burdizzo and do use it occasionally, but usually only when bigger calves need done and there is risk of flies. I do not like it for a variety of reasons - it is difficult to do , I think it is much more painful afterwards, in commercial cattle remains of testicles cause endless arguments over whether or not they are properly done. If the instrument is in good order and the technique is right there should not be an issue with failures.

Using rings as you say can only be done when they are so young that if they are a wee bit poorly it is not a good idea. There can be failures with rings if a testicle slips as the ring is applied. I was very surprised to learn as a vet student that lambs castrated with a ring are very much more likely to develope tetanus than those done by any other method, and I suppose this might well apply to calves. The ring method also means you have to do them before you can really see how they are performing if you have any desire to rear a bull.

Duncan

[Liz]

Thank you Duncan.

I think I shall generally stick to cutting, although as I said, I have had problems with the last one. I take your points on cleanliness - and am surprised to have had so much trouble with this one. It was done by my vet, I presume using sterile instruments etc, and the calf has lots of fresh straw to lie on. The vet seems to think that it didn't drain properly - I think it healed over below a clot which then couldn't clear. Does that make sense? Assuming it does, is this at all common?

Others I have had cut seem to get quite a setback and are certainly not comfortable for a good few days. Is this common, or a factor of the age at which its done, skill of operator etc?

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Usually the cut is made right to the bottom of the scrotum to try to ensure drainage, but I find often that although the cut does go to the bottom whilst the scrotum is held tense with the testicles in it, when they are removed the empty scrotum changes shape and that is no longer the case. It is also possible as you say that a clot of blood has formed and subsequently got infected. Bacteria are a bit like weed seeds in a field - they tend to be everywhere unseen and start to grow as soon as conditions are suitable. I don't suppose serious complications are really all that common given the total number of calves which are castrated, but of course if you have had one out of a batch of one go wrong then it is 100% !! It is not common for anything more than a jag of long acting antibiotics to be needed, or more occasionally to improve the drainage of the scrotal wounds.
I don't worry to much what age the calf is as long as restraint is satisfactory - ie minimal risk to me and the calf! The finer techniques used are many and varied and every vet develops his own favoured method. Personally I use a knife to open the wound, cutting right into the testicle, separate the distal end of the testicle from the lining of the scrotum, and remove the testicle by simple controlled traction, being very careful not to break the cord at the "pampiniform plexus" - the bit above the testicle with lots of convoluted veins. I like to see a good length of cord come out, and do not use any form of emasculator or ligature. I know that many vets consider this risky but I have found that using fancy instruments etc just increases the risk of intoducing infection and if the cord has been cut rather than pulled any bleeding occurring is liable to be much worse and difficult to control. As I said before I am unaware of any calf I have cut in 30 years bleeding to death, so I stand by my method. In todays world it is probably not so easy for a young vet to use such simple technique without pressure to be seen to be doing all sorts of fancy things to hold up as a defence if anything goes wrong. With my method only the parts which will be removed are handled unless the calf struggles and grip is lost.
But remember that there are many different refinements and my method may be right for me but your own vet will use some method that he or she is happy with and that is OK.

Duncan

[Jo Kemp]

I suppose I am a mean ol' thing but I have the bull calves cut at the same time as disbudding - about 2 weeks of age however, if flies are around then both jobs are delayed.

Only cut a few calves but although they are a bit miz for a few hours, Mum's milk seems to repair them very quickly.
I always get the vet to do both tasks
Happy New Year to all
Jo

[ann]

Hi

I have used rings on male calves with out any problems however we do occasionally find one without both testicles down before 7 days, then I have left them and got my horse vet to cut them, no disrespect to Duncan but a lot of cattle vets do not like cutting calves. I have only had one problem here and that was with a young male with a very retain testicle. I try to get them done around turning out time so its they are out on clean grass and we always give them a tetnus shot.

Of the above methods I much prefer the rings but you must make sure you keep both testicles in side the ring before you release it.

One thing which I have always found intresting is that it never seems to bother dexters, when I double suckled the continental calves always where a bit miserable for the first few hours. However if you need to vacinate or inject because of illness its the dexter which is the one who objects strongly and the continentals never bother.

Ann