The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Luckyescape on June 28, 2016, 04:30:03 pm

Title: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Luckyescape on June 28, 2016, 04:30:03 pm
Hi all.  I'm a new sheep owner and have taken on a very friendly Ram whom I want castrated so I don't get lambs next year :/. 
Do I have to have them taken off or could they just be clamped? 
It's gonna be expensive but have been given a rough cost of £200 for castration ????

Only cost me £126 for my pony
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: TheSmilingSheep on June 28, 2016, 08:42:02 pm
That sounds steep - I've had a quote of around £80 - £100 for castration of a 10 month old ram lamb... Maybe ask around...
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Rosemary on June 28, 2016, 09:14:33 pm
It's gonna be expensive but have been given a rough cost of £200 for castration ??? ?


What's he getting - two nights in a private ward? Seems a lot. I'd try another vet.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: nimbusllama on June 29, 2016, 07:43:16 am
I only have secondhand information, but a friend of mine had a couple of rams clamped, and I think it cost about £30 each.  I am sure there will be a vet along shortly who might be able to confirm the procedure (but not the cost!)
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Backinwellies on June 29, 2016, 07:47:16 am
Only cost me £45 to have one vasectomized..and that is much longer operation.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Foobar on June 29, 2016, 09:42:58 am
Is that price for the vet to come out or for you to take it to the vet?  Taking it in will be much cheaper.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Jukes Mum on June 29, 2016, 09:56:15 am
I was quoted £60 to take him in. The guy I bought him from (who banded them all incorrectly!) only paid £40 to have 5 done.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Backinwellies on June 29, 2016, 10:03:50 am
you sure you asked for castration? ... a knife and less than 10 mins work
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 29, 2016, 11:40:03 am
I think I'm right I saying that, after a certain age, they have to anaesthetise.  So you can't compare prices if it's a lamb vs an adult.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Backinwellies on June 29, 2016, 12:15:37 pm
I think I'm right I saying that, after a certain age, they have to anaesthetise.  So you can't compare prices if it's a lamb vs an adult.

Yes they do  but cant cost more than a vasectomy which can take an hour
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: twizzel on June 29, 2016, 02:21:32 pm
We had a lamb castrated last week with sedation and were quoted £35 plus a bit for drugs although we mostly used our own antibiotics and metacam. That said it took longer than anticipated as he turned out to be a rig so expecting the bill to be a bit more, but I still reckon £200 is a lot of money if both stones are there.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Luckyescape on June 29, 2016, 03:45:13 pm
Thanks all for your replies. This quote was the Essex area and was for them to come out and with a very small if any sedative. They said if he needs a full sedative then I would be looking at a more higher cost up to another £100 ????????
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Backinwellies on June 29, 2016, 03:56:39 pm
Thanks all for your replies. This quote was the Essex area and was for them to come out and with a very small if any sedative. They said if he needs a full sedative then I would be looking at a more higher cost up to another £100 ????????

Never have them out for a sheep (unless TOTALLY necessary)... take it in.   Sounds like they are treating it like a pet dog!   Find a farm vet!
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Luckyescape on June 30, 2016, 06:29:21 pm
Had anoth quote today of the following.
 In terms of costings, we have 3 visit bands depending on where you are based (from £57.60 - £86.40). Our professional rate for sheep work is £151.20 / hour. There is the option to bring the ram to the surgery and save a visit fee. If a surgical castration is performed we charge a kit fee of £30.00, and any drugs used are in addition. I would estimate that it would take between 15 and 30 minutes to castrate a ram surgically, depending a little on whether sedation is needed.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: Backinwellies on June 30, 2016, 08:53:09 pm
At those rates my Rams vasectomy would have cost over £200!   So get a new vet or maybe put Rammy in freezer and get a proper wether for grass mowing.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: twizzel on July 01, 2016, 09:48:34 am
Echo backinwellies- find a specific farm vet. That seems very steep to me. Our large animal vets don't charge a call out fee and just bill you for the time spent on the farm and any drugs used, I think it's about £120/hr.
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: EP90 on July 01, 2016, 03:19:09 pm
Burdizzo for a 6 month old ram cost me 20€ for a 2-3 minute job, no hassle, quick recovery, no infection or flies to consider. Took him to my farm vet  (240€ per hour isn’t to be sniffed at !!) .    Do you have to go the surgical route?
Title: Re: 14 month old ram needs the snip!!
Post by: landroverroy on July 01, 2016, 04:29:15 pm
I'd be inclined to eat the ram, or take it to market, and replace it with one already castrated, or a female. :innocent: