[Hillview Farm]

I've bought some 'wethers' in with a group of ewes,  just want we need and they were cheap enough after haggling because the novice breeder has castrated them but left the balls behind!

I'm interested to see if they can be removed without a call to the vet. A friend of mine castrates bull calves and older lambs with a jab of local and a scalpel. However can this still be done with the sack missing? Obviously you'd be cutting close to the body and I'd be worried of blood vessels.

My other question is,

As these boys have been with the ewes all year how likely is it that they may be in lamb? Had a feel in front of their udder and I'm just not sure.

I've heard as the testicles are close to the body the temperature can make them sub fertile? How true is this?

[Tim W]

They are called 'rigs' and should be sub fertile (once in a while they can still do the job)

I presume you will slaughter them at some stage (or are they pets? ), If so just keep them separate

Ewes may or may not be in lamb ----wait and see , you will soon find out

[Backinwellies]

Any castration at this age is a vet job. ... legally.  .Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, as
amended, only a veterinary surgeon may castrate a
lamb which has reached the age of three months.

 Why are you keeping them?   .... Just take to abattoir as they are.

Ewes pregnant? maybe.


and please note...
Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, as
amended, only a veterinary surgeon may castrate a
calf which has reached the age of two months

[Hillview Farm]

They are going to do conservation grazing so they wouldn't be sent off.

I did mean to add into my original post if it was legally allowed or was it a vet only job.

luckily I knocked off more than it would cost to get the vet out so no loss really. I'll get the vet to do them and might as well flick the scanner over the ewes for a yes no  answer as I don't really want them miles away to lamb out on the rough for a call from Joe public to say there's a dead lamb!

Thank you both

[Jukes Mum]

I bought a wether which turned out to be a rig. Vet has quoted me £40 plus VAT to castrate him. Really frustrating 

[Backinwellies]

I bought a wether which turned out to be a rig. Vet has quoted me £40 plus VAT to castrate him. Really frustrating 

..... fill up the freezer 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I leave all my ram lambs entire and remove them around august, they get sent off to market anyway so it is not a problem. The two frieslands I bought last year where in with whether's, however to my surprise one lambed on the 13th of this month, when i told the previous owner he was shocked. Is it cheaper to have the vet to castrate them or would it be cheaper to have a visectamy?

[Hillview Farm]

Castration would be cheaper as it's a quicker op. My vet charges for time and drugs not per job.

[Buttermilk]

My vet charged £75 for a vasectomy in November.

[Womble]

That's not bad at all. I might book myself in! 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

That's not bad at all. I might book myself in! 

But dont they do it for free on the NHS womble?

[Womble]

Suddenly,
I'm not half the man I used to be.
I had a National Health Vascectomy......

[Jukes Mum]

I bought a wether which turned out to be a rig. Vet has quoted me £40 plus VAT to castrate him. Really frustrating 

..... fill up the freezer 

No can do in this case unfortunately "Shank" is a real pet and we will always need a wether to keep the tup company in late summer/autumn so he has a job ;-)

[Dogwalker]

Couple of years ago I had a bottle lamb from a local farmer that was ringed that way. 
He proved a very useful teaser the first autumn but by summer looked like he had a huge udder, sent him off but them couldn't get the rams in without a dog to round them up.