The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Scotsdumpy on July 07, 2016, 08:40:09 am
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We've just had our 2 calves castrated and wonder if the method has changed recently. Our last calf was done by an older (old school) vet who used local anaesthetic in the calf's scrotum/testicles and the job was done without too much discomfort to the calf. On this occasion a recently qualified vet used an intramuscular pain killer then went straight to the job with the scalpel. The calf was obviously distressed - one testicle was removed whole but the second disintegrated during removal. The second was a repeat of the first but both testicles disintegrated and one was pulled back into the body. This meant the vet had to go in with a pair of forceps to retrieve - he was considering knocking him out at one stage. My question is should he have used local rather than intramuscular? And, what do your vets do?
I'm thinking if we have males again to use rubber rings - do any of you use this method?
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We get the vet to castrate our bull calves at about six months of age - usually when he comes to PD the cows again. Sometimes he uses the Burdizzo but usually he cuts them, becasue it's November-ish and past the flies. It's also completely reliable - using the Burdizzo, you should check in a few weeks that the testicles have shriveled just in case it's not been 100% effective.
We don't use rubber rings because I like the steers to have a sac and I think castration at 7 days makes them look rather feminine. There's also some evidence that they grow better if left entire for longer.
I've never experienced the problem you had but it's always been the same vet - he uses a local anaesthetic.
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We ring all of our bull calves when they are tagged at a couple of days old, much better for everyone involved. They all grow fine and normally achieve top prices in the store ring. You can tell the odd 1 that has been left entire for longer and cut later on by the vet, it affects their temperament and they can be quite a handful.
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I'm not a vet, but to me an intramuscular painkiller is like giving general pain relief to reduce pain, much as you would for a headache; whereas a local anaesthetic is to totally block the pain in a specific area. Our vet has always used a local and our animals haven't felt a thing. Recently I get them to administer Metacam (painkiller) afterwards for when the local has worn off as I read that this reduces the stress to the animal as the feeling comes back.
Sounds to me that it's no wonder the testicles disintegrated as the poor calves must have been in considerable pain, and no doubt struggled violently.
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I think you need to speak to the more senior vet(s) at the practise; it sounds as though the younger vet may need some mentoring.
We prefer burdizzo or castration at three months-ish as they do develop more masculine characteristics if done later. However we do on occasion use a rubber ring at a few days days old; it works fine and the beasts grow well. They do look a little more like heifers though. I have to say, however, our top price ever for a beast was a Limousin stirk that we'd ringed at a few days old. Whether he'd have fetched even more if he'd been that bit more masculine, one can only guess!
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He should have had local anesthetic into the scrotum and then after a few minutes cut off the bottom of it with a scalpel and then removed testicles, relatively quick and simple. Painkiller ie Metacam can be given after to help with discomfort when local wears off.
We do around 100 every 8/10 weeks.
Rubber band at three days old is much easier though!
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I am planning on having mine done next year, so thanks for discussing this subject guys :) Is rubberinging a good way or can it backfire? I don't mind the femineness about them, but would they grow any faster?
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Thanks for all your replies - unfortunately we don't have much choice of vet surgeries here in north Aberdeenshire otherwise we would have considered changing a long time ago. I might have a word with the manager when I get to pay the bill. Our other alternative is to ask for the older vet to do it. The calves are recovered from the ordeal for the moment!!
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I am planning on having mine done next year, so thanks for discussing this subject guys :) Is rubberinging a good way or can it backfire? I don't mind the femineness about them, but would they grow any faster?
On our small sample, I wouldn't say there's a significant difference in growth rate, no.
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I am planning on having mine done next year, so thanks for discussing this subject guys :) Is rubberinging a good way or can it backfire? I don't mind the femineness about them, but would they grow any faster?
As long as you make sure you have caught both the stones and not trapped anything else it works fine- is there a local farmer that could help you the first few times?