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 
