400 Western Live-stock Management 



undesirable pigs is prevented by castration. Pigs should 

 be castrated when about six weeks old, or two weeks be- 

 fore they are weaned. To perform the operation the pig 

 is laid on one side, an attendant holds the pig by the front 

 and hind foot which are on top, and the operator holds the 

 testicle between the thumb and forefinger with the left 

 hand, holding the knife with the right. The lower tes- 

 ticle should be removed first, so that the flow of blood 

 will not interfere. An incision is made parallel to the 

 septum, about half an inch from it, and extending a little 

 below the lower point of the testicle. This is to pre- 

 vent the formation of a pus pocket in the bottom of the 

 scrotum, which would be likely to cause difficulty when 

 the wound heals. The skin and the membrane covering 

 the testicles are cut through, the testicle is squeezed out, 

 and either pulled out entirely, or pulled out until the 

 cord connecting the testicle with the body is an inch and 

 a half or two inches long. Then the cord is gradually 

 cut or scraped off near the body. Some disinfectant 

 should be rubbed over the scrotum and adjacent parts 

 before the incision is made, and it is well to wash out the 

 wound with disinfectant. Any of the standard sheep dips 

 will be found satisfactory for this purpose. 



Pigs which show an enlargement at one side of the scrotum 

 are usually ruptured, and require special treatment. It 

 is best that a veterinarian operate on such animals until 

 the pig-raiser becomes familiar with the operation. The 

 loss of ordinary healthy pigs from castration is very small, 

 while that with ruptured pigs is nearly fifty per cent. 



WEANING 



If two litters a year are to be produced, it is necessary 

 that the pigs be weaned at eight to ten weeks, while 



