LAMBS FROM BIRTH UNTIL WEANED I15 



tration should not be deferred beyond the age of three 

 weeks. The lambs will suffer less from the operation 

 the younger they are after they are well on their feet. 

 Of course, it may be done later, as late even as the 

 autumn, but the hazard in- 

 creases with advancing age 

 and the benefits decrease. 



Very substantial benefits 

 arise from the early castration 

 of the lambs that are to be 

 grown for meat ; that is, if they 

 are not disposed of until after "^- ^'^^^1^%^^'"'' ™« 

 the weaning season. It is not 



thought to be necessary to castrate lambs sent to the 

 block while yet nursing. First, they attain to a 

 greater size, especially after the age arrives when 

 they become capable of breeding. After that age 

 is reached, castrated lambs are more restful, and so make 

 better gains ; second, they are more easily managed when 

 castrated. Both sexes may then run together at all times 

 without the hazard that the females shall become preg- 

 nant. Third, the early castration results in the produc- 

 tion of a better carcass. It prevents undue development 

 of bone, especially in the head and neck, and also lessens 

 muscular development about the neck and breast where 

 the meat is not specially valuable. It also stops develop- 

 ment in the organs of generation, which, of course, are 

 practically valueless for food. Buyers discount severely 

 uncastrated lambs. During recent years at the Buffalo 

 and New York markets, the discrimination against ram 

 lambs uncastrated after the mating season has been fully 

 one dollar per lamb. The methods adopted in castrating 

 young lambs are various. Of these three may be given. 

 By the first, the scrotum is cut off close to the body with 

 a pair of strong shears. This should be done when the 

 lamb is not more than two or three days old. Unless in 

 the case of lambs that are to be shorn, this method an- 



