Animal Castration 101 



months of age) the standing posture is ideal and injury to the 

 operator by kicks is extremely rare. 



The same instruments, preparation, disinfection of site of 

 operation, sterilization of instruments, scrotal incisions, etc., are 

 employed here as castrating bulls in the recumbent posture. The 

 operator should — while making scrotal incision — have his knife 

 under thorough control as at this time there is almost invariably an 

 abrupt movement on part of the animal which might result in the 

 knife coming in contact with the tendo-achillis ("hamstring") and 

 doing irreparable damage. Calves are castrated in the same man- 

 ner as bulls. 



castration of the cryptorchid and monorchid 

 ("ridgling") bull. 



Compared with the horse and hog, cryptorchidism in cattle 

 is extremely rare. However, such a complication does actually 

 exist, and it behooves those who are expected to perform such 

 classes of operations to qualify themselves for this one. 



Objects and Indications — Same as castration of the bull. See 

 page 92. 



Age — Six to twelve months. 



Preparation — Withhold all food for twenty-four hours previous 

 to operating. 



Position — Standing. 



Restraint — A simple, quick and efficient method of handling a 

 bull for this operation is illustrated in Fig. 72. With a rope around 

 horns (B), if "polled" use halter, and holder in nose (A), the 

 head is made fast to gate post (C). While assistant continues to 

 hold rope attached to nose the second assistant grasps tail (D) 

 and draws it between slats of gate or fence (E). With animal in 

 this position and thus secured he can be castrated with little annoy- 

 ance in so far as body movement is concerned. If stocks are avail- 

 able of course they should be used in preference to this method. 



Instruments— 



1. Miles ' hook castrating knife. (Fig. 25.) 



2. Emasculator. (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8.) 



3. Hair clippers. (Fig. 145.) 



4. Spraying needle. (Fig. 152.) 



5. Strong flax or braided silk for flank sutures. 



