[Malc]

Help please. Does anyone know a common or slang term used for pig castration? Don't ask why - long story.

And don't worry, I'm not considering doing it as I think it's unnecessary. My two porkers were castrated, but any that I breed will be left well alone.

[Hilarysmum]

Over here its castre (cant spell it) think the only other term I know of is neutering.  Its almost universal here that males are castrated at around 3 days old, we dont mainly because the mere thought brings tears to the eyes of OH.

[Blonde]

Castration is done here on the farm on day one.... the day they are borne....very successfully I might add.  when piglets are so tiny they is no problem with this procedure.  The older they get the more difficult it is to release the nuts out of the pig.  I do this job on my own and it has to be a quite corner of the piggery.  Once the boys have been done they are  put back with the mother and they behave like girls for the entire life on the farm.  If they are handled on a regular basis they become very quite.  They dont grow those long nasty tusks that boars grow  so arent quite as dangerous to be with, but their weight is somewhat large and they can knock   you over if they are a little boisterous.  They do get a little fatter than most but a little fat on a sausage pig is a necessity.

The boars that are castrated are kept 2 years to allow the meat to mature.   This is the best pig to make good sausages out of.  Any younger or older is a waste of time...

[princesspiggy]

what breeds are yours blonde?

[Blonde]

Large white, hampshire and red saddle.  some berkshire crosses and land race crosses also

[Lostlambs]

We castrate here on day one or two at the latest also-the abbatoir or market buyers won't deal with a intact male older than 6mos. I had a neighbor last year to show me how anybody have good tips for me this year? He just made little slices while holding the piglet between the knees.popped out the testes, pulled the string off and the sprayed with iodine. looked pretty easy with someone else doing it but this year I'm on my own. Thanks

[Pel]

I have read in a book somewhere Barrow being used as a name for a castrated male pig, I don't think anyone in Britain uses it, but I could be wrong. I think its more of an american name, but that is just a guess.

[HappyHippy]

anybody have good tips for me this year? He just made little slices while holding the piglet between the knees.popped out the testes, pulled the string off and the sprayed with iodine. looked pretty easy with someone else doing it but this year I'm on my own. Thanks

Don't pull, cut ! But other than that - sounds about right.
Good luck, and no drinking the night before - you'll need a steady hand 

[Lostlambs]

Thanks for the cut tip-I will post when I'm done to let know how bad I've done

[Hilarysmum]

Blonde (sorry to keep asking you questions) does the no tushes in neutered pigs apply to all males?  I have an 18 month old LB who I intend keeping and hope that the no tusk on a neutre is true of this breed too. 

[Blonde]

Blonde (sorry to keep asking you questions) does the no tushes in neutered pigs apply to all males?  I have an 18 month old LB who I intend keeping and hope that the no tusk on a neutre is true of this breed too. 

barrows dont produce tusks or the male hormone smell either.  They behave more like a sow and are very quiet I have quite a few here that  range form 190 - 205 kg and are nearly ready for the sausage season.  They dont take any interest in  the cycling girls unless you miss some   of the nut and then it will regrow.  I  also castrate at day old and find they are easier.  Just hold between your knees and go for it.  Quiet corner in the piggery out of the breeze that is quiet.  Little horizontal cut and take the first one out and the second one the same way, give a squirt of Dermoclens or Octolens  and in a couple of days it is healed.   I sometimes give the sow a squirt as she can be a busy body after they have been done.  The smell llingers for hours.

[Hilarysmum]

Thanks for that, I was told by an "expert" that barrows do grow tusks, its a great relief to know that is not the case.  I shall relax now.   

[Rosemary]

What kind of anaesthetic do you use?

[robert waddell]

Rosemary,
No anaesthetic is required as long as the piglets are not older that 3-4 days old. After this age the vet has to do it. Also you have to cut not tear or pull the cord that the testicle is attached to

[Sylvia]

Corrrrr!!! Even I have my legs crossed reading this thread I know my dad used to cut piglets when I was a child but I was always sent away during the proccess and haven't kept pigs for myself until a couple of years ago. Then I had three Berkshire gilts destined for the freezer so it didn't apply but I now have two Kune Kune which I intend to breed from and can see that if I am to castrate it must be done early. I'll probably get the vet to do them and watch very carefully how he does it. I imagine that cleanliness is paramount