472 Pork Production 



of age. It is not best to operate at weaning time, as 

 both castration and weaning together may temporarily 

 check the hog's growth. The season .of the year makes 

 very Httle difference, providing the necessary care is 

 given the hogs before and after the operation. 



Preparation for castration consists in withholding feed 

 for ten or twelve hours and confining the hogs in a clean 

 well-bedded pen or lot. If this is practiced, they are in 

 a better condition for the operation and cleaner to handle 

 than when filled with feed and covered with mud and 

 filth. 



The instruments necessary are a heavy scalpel and 

 probe-pointed bistoury. Some operators use scissors for 

 cutting of the cord and its covering. It is advisable to 

 sever the testicular cords of a hog more than six months 

 old with an emasculator in order to avoid hemorrhage. 

 Scrotal hernia in hogs is common, and it is best for the 

 operator to provide himself with a straight surgeon's 

 needle and heavy linen or silk thread for ligating the cord 

 and covering. A pan or pail of a water solution of liquor 

 cresolis compound or an equally good disinfectant with 

 pieces of oakum or absorbent cotton for washing and 

 cleaning the scrotum are necessary. 



If a number of hogs are to be castrated, they should be 

 confined in a small pen, as this enables the attendant to 

 handle them without unduly exciting or exercising them. 

 They should be placed on a table or the floor of an adjoin- 

 ing pen and held firmly by the attendant. It may be 

 necessary to tie the legs of a mature hog with a quarter- 

 inch rope in order to confine him for the operation. The 

 skin over the scrotum is first cleaned by washing with a 

 disinfecting solution. An incision parallel with and a 

 little to one side of the middle line or raphe is made 



