DEHORNING, SPAYING, AND CASTRATING CATTLE 2)')7 



when this can be avoided; especially is this true of 

 calves. When castrated when yet in the sheds or 

 stables, they should have a good and dry bed of fresh 

 litter on which to lie to lessen the hazard from germs in 

 contaminated surroundings. 



Males that should be castrated. — Of course, all male 

 calves grown for meat beyond the milk period should 

 be castrated. In other words, all the males should be 

 castrated that are not grown for veal. No gain would 

 result from such castration of calves at the age when 

 they are ordinarily sold for veal. In rare instances, but 

 one testicle comes down. When this happens the aim 

 should be to have a skilled operator remove it. as when 

 not removed the animal will be more or less troublesome 

 in a herd, and because of its staggy character the meat 

 will be discounted by the buyer. 



Pure-bred males are not usually castrated, as they 

 are regarded as being too valuable for being simply 

 grown for meat. But when it is manifest while they are 

 yet of tender age that they are possessed of development 

 so inferior that it is not probable that they will grow 

 into animals good enough to be used in breeding, 

 they should be castrated. In some instances they prom- 

 ise well when quite young, but develop disappointingly, 

 to the extent of preventing them from being sold as 

 breeders. When this happens, they should be castrated. 

 Usually any considerable surplus of bulls beyond the 

 age of one year in a pure-bred herd is property that will 

 bring loss rather than gain when maintained in the hope 

 of selling them for breeding, as the average buyer tries 

 to get a younger animal. Animals castrated beyond the 

 age mentioned will have more or less of a staggy appear- 

 ance, and, therefore, may not bring the best price when 

 sold for meat, but even so, disposing of surplus bulls as 

 indicated is usually attended with the greatest profit, 

 although, of course, there are some exceptions. 



