[VSS]

It is possible to castrate adult rams using bloodless castrators - you can do this yourself. The castrators are quite expensive, so probably best to find someone who has some and possibly they might even do it for you.

It works by cutting through the spermatic cord and blood vessels that supply the testicles., without breaking the skin. Because this is totally enclosed, there is very little risk of infection. You cut the chord in two different places on each side, just to make sure. The disruption to the blood supply causes the testicles to gradually shrivel up. You do have to keep an eye on them for swelling etc and check about 6 -8 weeks later to ensure that the testicles have shrivelled up and that the cords are still severed.



Its still not very nice, but not as unpleasant as open castration.

[robert waddell]

the last time i used a set of burdizos was at college     the operator in the picture appears to be using them incorrectly        if you goggle burdizos there is an interesting link to wikipedia

[VSS]

   the operator in the picture appears to be using them incorrectly     

I don't think so - can you say what you think is incorrect?

[robert waddell]

the head is digging into the scrotum sack         also from the wikipedia site it shows a 9 inch set i am presuming the 9 inch is the length      the pliers should be turned round 90 degrees that way you are not causing unnecessary suffering  if  you are not using local anesthetic  again from wikipedia the cords are wrapped in nerve endings

[Sylvia]

How many of you men are reading this with tightly crossed legs

[TheCaptain]

Because Wikipedia is so reliable!!!

[Rosemary]

How many of you men are reading this with tightly crossed legs

I'M reading it with crossed legs in sympathy 

[robert waddell]

no because of what i was taught at college 

[Corrie Dhu]

the head is digging into the scrotum sack         also from the wikipedia site it shows a 9 inch set i am presuming the 9 inch is the length      the pliers should be turned round 90 degrees that way you are not causing unnecessary suffering  if  you are not using local anesthetic  again from wikipedia the cords are wrapped in nerve endings

I used them as you seem to be describing, horizontally rather than vertically.  The ones in that photo look to be a different arrangement, as I don't believe it would be possible to use the ones I have at that angle.  The ones I have are more something like this:

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=362&cat_id=13

You can only use them up to 90 days however. 

[bigchicken]

O O O O  OH OH  its just got to be sore just got to be no doubt about it  OOOOH.

[shep53]

As a user of 9" burdizos the picture looks fine to me, never used the type corrie dhu has but looks handy. The law is that over 3 month's of age only a vet can castrate and only under anesthetic

[VSS]

the head is digging into the scrotum sack 

Only the skin, the testicle is clearly below the head of the pliers. It is good practise to sever each cord on two places to ensure effective castration.

  the pliers should be turned round 90 degrees

With this model of pliers that would not work. That would split the spermatic cord lengthways rather than cutting it across.

that way you are not causing unnecessary suffering

Not sure what you are getting at here.

[robert waddell]

yes the head appears to be digging into the sack even if it is the skin  that is if it has a wide head and not the narrow one shown by corrie dhu
rotated round 90 degrees in the operators hand
two crimps is the only effective way to do this form of castration  on each cord
with the set of nuts that is pictured it is older than what is allowed to be castrated without local anesthetic

[VSS]

It is also worth pointing out that you have be be over the age of 17 to carry out castration by any method.

[Hazelwood Flock]

What about vasectomising the rams rather than castrating? they could then be used as teasers to tighten up the lambing.