The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: JMB on April 04, 2013, 08:38:30 pm

Title: Having my rig sheep castrated
Post by: JMB on April 04, 2013, 08:38:30 pm
Sorry. I'm not sure if that's the correct terminology.
We had our boy lambs castrated last year, but one of them is a rig.
He is nearly a year old now. He smells like a tup and he acts like one and I'm assuming he can still get our ewes pregnant.
He was destined for the freezer but he's so cute I'm not sure I can do it.
I'm thinking of getting the vet to operate on him so we can keep him.
I just wondered if anyone had done this before? My concern is that it'll be a difficult operation for him and that it'll be so expensive my OH will object.
Thanks
J xxxxxx
Title: Re: Having my rig sheep castrated
Post by: Sbom on April 04, 2013, 09:08:34 pm
Was he castrated with one nut down or was he just not done because one wasn't there? If he wasn't done at all then his other nut may now have dropped, you need to have a feel  :innocent:. If it is down now then he could be done with the clamp things that I just can't spell!! Burdizo (probably not spelt right)
I would imagine that an operation would be expensive as he'd need a general anaesthetic and literally to delve in his innards looking for it.
Tough decision  ???
Title: Re: Having my rig sheep castrated
Post by: OhLaLa on April 04, 2013, 09:21:45 pm
Over a certain age (3 months) I don't think you can legally 'do it yourself' (see link), so you will have to get the vet to perform the operation on him. The vet will know how much it's going to cost so you can ask for at least a ball (no pun intended) park figure before you book him in:
 
http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/adlib/defra/content.aspx?doc=4154&id=4175 (http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/adlib/defra/content.aspx?doc=4154&id=4175)
 
Title: Re: Having my rig sheep castrated
Post by: JMB on April 04, 2013, 09:39:16 pm
He was done by someone else with just one testicle down.
We should have left him really .
I'll contact the vet for an estimate.
Then I'll lie to my OH like I did when we had our pig done....
Thanks
J xxxxc

Title: Re: Having my rig sheep castrated
Post by: Bramblecot on April 04, 2013, 09:41:44 pm
Just be economical with the truth :innocent: