Castration of bulls: top 4 ways and at what age to carry out
Carrying out castration of bulls with rubber rings or other methods has a number of features. They must be taken into account when choosing a method of operation. It is important to consult your veterinarian for this. For the procedure to be successful, it is necessary to strictly observe the technique of its implementation. It is also important to care for the animal after the castration is completed.
Why bulls are castrated
Before performing castration, it is worth analyzing all the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure. This operation affects the structure of the body of the bulls, but does not provide a big difference in weight.The main difference is the quality of the meat. In bulls that have been castrated, it is more fatty and high-calorie. When growing for meat, this feature should certainly be taken into account. If you plan to get lean beef, and slaughter is planned at the age of 18-20 months, you should not perform the procedure.
Another goal of castration is behavior correction. When growing a bull on an individual farm and keeping it in a stall, there is no special need for castration. At the same time, after the procedure, the bulls become calmer and cannot fertilize cows. This is important when keeping large livestock. The meat that is obtained after the slaughter of such animals is distinguished by excellent taste. In industrial animal breeding, castration is considered one of the methods to increase profitability.
Contraindications to the procedure
Before the operation, it is worth analyzing the condition of the animals, establishing the degree of development of the testicles and their location. It is forbidden to castrate sick, emaciated, weakened males. Also, contraindications include too young or very mature age.
It is forbidden to perform castration during vaccination. Operations are not carried out 2 weeks before vaccinations and within 10-14 days after them.
Castration Methods
There are quite a few castration methods, each of which has certain pros and cons.
Ligature technique
To carry out the procedure, you should do the following:
- put the bull on its left side and fix it;
- pull back the skin on the scrotum to make it smooth;
- cut off the upper part with a scalpel by 3 centimeters;
- grab and extract protruding testicles one by one;
- move the skin to the wall of the abdomen and apply a ligature to the spermatic cord;
- remove the testicles one by one.
After the operation, the bull needs observation. For faster healing, you should use ointments with creolin or lysol.
Castration tongs
This procedure is usually performed on young animals. To castrate cattle, you should do the following:
- grasp the scrotum with your left hand and pull the skin to straighten the folds;
- make an incision on the side and bring the testicles out;
- compress the spermatic cord with special forceps and manually unscrew the testis.
The Overwrapped Technique
This procedure is considered bloodless. To carry it out, you should do the following:
- wipe the neck of the scrotum with alcohol, then place a ligature on it, which forms a castration loop;
- tie tightly - because the ligature should be pulled off with sticks tied to the ends.
Sometimes tissue compression with forceps is used. This lasts for a maximum of 5 minutes, and then a ligature is applied. As a result, the blood flow to the tissue stops. After a few days they die. The scrotum falls off with the testicles and ligature.
Open method
This method is considered the fastest. To castrate bulls, it is recommended to do the following:
- fix the steer well;
- with a scalpel, perform a longitudinal incision of all layers of the scrotum, including the vaginal membrane;
- remove the testicle with the cord and cut the thickened fragment of the transitional ligament;
- put a ligature on the cord - this should be done 10 centimeters from the testis;
- retreat 2 centimeters from the ligature and cut the cord;
- lubricate the formed stump with iodine and sprinkle with an antiseptic.
When is the best time to spend
For the operation to be successful, it is important to choose the right time for it. Do not perform manipulation in hot weather. This will cause problems with wound healing and may even cause blood poisoning.
However, in cold weather, castration is also not worth it. Cool weather without sharp temperature fluctuations will be a suitable option.
Besides this, it is important to choose the right age of the animal. If the bull is grown for fattening, the operation should be performed at 8 months. Late open castration will result in weight loss. When growing an animal for meat, it is best to carry out the procedure in 2-3 months. If a bullock is grown, it is castrated at 1.5-2 years.
Fixation methods
Before the operation, the bull needs to be fixed in such a position that it does not injure itself and the veterinarians. To do this, it is recommended to knock down or put it without movement. It is important that the veterinarian can perform all the necessary procedures with the animal. The success of the intervention depends on it.
To fix the bull in a standing position, it is recommended to tie it.In the villages, a strong fence is used for this. At the same time, the rope should be fixed short in order to immobilize the bull. The most popular method is fixation in the supine position. It is often used for castration in a bloody way. To do this, you need to take a strong long rope and tighten it on the horns of the animal. This procedure will require several people. Then the bull should be laid on the ground and well secured.
How the operation is performed
The technique of the operation depends on its technique - bloody or bloodless. After completing the preparation, you need to take a scalpel, make an incision near the base. It is performed from the side of the abdomen. It is important to capture the skin and shell when doing this.
After that, pull out the testicle as much as possible. Carefully peel it off the shell. Finally, cut off the transition ligament and perform a castration loop. It should be far from the testis. Beginners are not recommended to perform the procedure on their own. It should be done by an experienced veterinarian.In the absence of the required skills, you can only act as an assistant.
Further animal care
After castration, the bull must be placed in a well-cleaned pen. It is important to keep the stall clean and dry. It is strictly forbidden to put the animal on a dirty, damp bedding. This will lead to complications after the intervention.
Also, do not use small sawdust, which can penetrate into the damaged area. Straw bedding is best.
A veterinarian should observe the animal for several days. To prevent purulent complications, the wound should be treated several times a day. Equally important is good nutrition. However, food should be given in moderation.
If there are a lot of flies in the room, it is worth using solutions to repel insects. It is recommended to keep castrated bulls separately for 2-3 weeks.To avoid infection, they should not be grazed in wetlands. Castration of bulls can be carried out by different methods. Each of them has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Before choosing a specific method, you need to analyze all the features.
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