124 Animal Castration 



CHAPTER IX. 



CASTRATION OF THE RA:M. 



OJijcrfs (1)1(1 fudirdfions — The oijeratiuii is rarely ever per- 

 formed u]»()ii ai^ed rams. Its greatest application is to lambs. 

 Castration hastens growth and development and improves the 

 character of the mutton and fleece. Castrated rams and laml)s are 

 known as "weathers" and "weathers" command a nmch higher 

 market ]:»rice than rams. If male sheep are to be raised to full 

 maturity for mutton purposes they should always be castrated as 

 laml)s, 



Afjc— From a week to 10 days old is a x^opular and safe age at 

 which to castrate. However, some prefer operating later. There 

 is no dou])t but what the mortality rate following castration 

 rapidly increases with age. For that reason if for no other the 

 early operation is most advantageous. 



Season — AA^inter and early spring. Weather conditions play 

 an important part in the success of the operation. Cold rains and 

 sudden drops in temperature should l)e avoided as nuich as ])ossi- 

 ble. Make an extra effort to select seasonal)le weather. 



Prcjxirdfioii—JAmitcd diet for 2-1 hours before o])erating. 



Iicsf rdinl and Position— A favorite method— l)otli as regards 

 restraint and position— is for the assistant to grasp the legs and 

 place the animal on its runi]) as shown in Figure 95. 



Figure 9(3 illustrates a satisfactory method of eonhning large 

 and heavy rams for castration. i>oth fore and the right hind legs 

 ai-e fixed togethei* hy means of a cord (E). The assistant gi-asps 

 left hind leg (F) and flexes it against the ])ody. Witli right hand 

 (G) he controls the liead. \Vith a ram in this ])osition the scrotum 

 is readily accessilde. 



Inslrnnicnts — 1. Williams' castrating knife. (Fig. 2.) 

 2. Swine and shee}) emasculator. (Fig. 80.) 



