

CASTRATION OF BOARS 



711 



trated pigs are referred to as "barrows," and it is a well-recognized 

 fact that "barrows" command a higher market price than boars. 



Castration is an operation which is universally practised wher- 

 ever swine are raised. 



Age. — Pigs are best castrated either two weeks before or two 

 weeks after weaning. If the operation is performed at or near 

 weaning time it has a tendency to retard their growth and develop- 

 ment. If allowed to run too long they become "boarish," besides 

 the operation is more painful than it would have been if they had 

 been operated on as pigs. 



Fig. 100. — Restraint for castration. 



Season. — Hogs should not be castrated during the summer 

 months while flies are prevalent. Best to operate during late fall, 

 winter, and early spring. 



Anatomic Conformation and Relation of Scrotum to Testicles. — 

 The scrotum consists of two pouches formed by skin, subcutaneous 

 connective tissue, etc. These pouches are divided by a median 

 line ("raph^") and fit up close to the perineal region. These 

 pouches each contain a testicle (Fig. 99), which is decidedly shorter 

 and more rounded than the testicle of many of the other domestic 

 animals. 



