Castration - Best method

[Sylvia]

In my humble opinion, beginners should not be encouraged to perform any procedures on their animals. They should be advised to find a vet who could if he/she thought fit demonstrate the things which owners can safely do and make clear those that they should not undertake.

[Kathy Millar]

I get my vet to cut mine. He does it in the fall (on my spring calves) when flies are not a problem. I also get my vet to disbud my calves when the horn is about the size of my thumbnail. He uses a local on both jobs and would use a general if I let him but the one time he did that the poor calf was out for about 6 hours!!

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I wholeheartedly agree with Sylvia's latest point, only those who have been properly trained should attempt any dehorning, disbudding or castrating. Training does not just mean being shown what to do by someone else who has been doing it - they may or may not know the correct way.

Up till the Agrucultural Training Board was disbanded I used to do a lot of courses, in castrating, dehorning, calving, calf rearing, lambing, lamb hypothermia etc, cattle feet and sheep feet trimming, but the modernisation of the ATB seemed to put an end to the use of vets in practice for such things, despite the fact that they (ATB) had actually trained us as instructors. In the end Lantra were demanding more for me to register as a trainer than I was to be paid to do the job.

Beryl makes the point about keeping newly castrated calves on good deep clean bedding, I was aware afterwards that I should have emphasised this in my original post. It is equally important that the calves are as clean and dry as possible underneath BEFORE as well as after the castration. If they are going out after castration or dehorning then they should not be done in extremes of weather either - too hot causes stress and flies and maggots, and cold and wet is worse still for worsening the check effect of the surgery. The two jobs should ideally not be done at the same time. That has to be squared with the practicalities of catching the devils of course!!

Duncan

[groubearfarm]

I use two rubber rings at about seven days old, and that way I am really sure that I have covered all possibilities. I once had a ring which was obviously damaged (not visably)and the result was not good! I also disbud when the buds appear so it will often have the disadvantage that I will have to do them in bits and pieces, but there is a point when they are just right for doing and both for the calves sake and my own, it is worth keeping a close eye on their growth. I like to keep them close to home for the first weeks anyway so they become accustomed to human contact, it is just unfortunate for the poor little things if their only human contact in the first few weeks is to be ringed, tagged and disbudded. One can understand they might run a mile if they see a human!!

[Martin]

Duncan, I seem to have miss led you, my vet is very good, and I have every confidence in whatever he does and advice that he gives, my description by using the word 'brutal' was one given by a male watching another male undergoing a procedure that made my eyes water.
On a more clinical level, the larger of the three calves he decided to make a seperate incision for each testicle, on the two smaller animals he did cut the bottom of the scrotum totally off, as you have already said, for better drainage.
I'm glad to say all three seem to have forgiven me and still come when called for a fuss.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

[Rob R]

If they are going out after castration or dehorning then they should not be done in extremes of weather either - too hot causes stress and flies and maggots, and cold and wet is worse still for worsening the check effect of the surgery. The two jobs should ideally not be done at the same time. That has to be squared with the practicalities of catching the devils of course!!

Duncan

And the check effect as you say- we like to get 'procedures' done in one go so as not to have two periods of stress in the animals life. The sum of two stressful procedures at the same time doesn't add up to as much stress as individual tasks performed at different times. It's better too during that period afterwards when you are being extra vigilant to spot any problems, only having to go though that once. It also helps if you don't do something nasty every time you catch them :D I give older animals a treat as their last memory of being gathered up- then hopefully they remember the last [positive] experience most.