10 



farmers' BULLETIN 949. 



from a week to 6 or 8 months old may be safely castrated. If the 

 calf is too young, however, the testicles are undeveloped and may be 

 difficult to secure, while if more than 8 months old severe hem- 

 orrhage may result which 

 may terminate fatally.. 

 The usual time to castrate 

 calves is when they are 

 about 4 months old. 



A dry, cool day during 

 a period when grass or 

 forage is plentiful should 

 be selected, if possible, but 

 the operation should not 

 be delayed too long be- 

 cause of the lack of these 

 conditions. The calf may 

 be castrated in the dehorning chute at the same time he is being 

 dehorned, or he may be thrown to the ground for the operation. 



THROWING THE ANIMALS. 



On the range the common method of throwing an animal consists 

 in casting a noose around the fore leg and tightening it quickly. 

 This causes the animal to fall. Another method is to place a rope 

 around the animal's neck and another around its hind legs. Both 

 ropes are then tightened and an assistant throws the animal by 

 " tailing " it. The animal can be secured on the ground by tying the 

 rope on its neck to a post at one end of the pen and the one on its 

 hind legs to a post at the 

 other end of the pen, or the 

 fore and hind legs may be 

 brought together as far as 

 possible and tied securely. 

 The latter method is known 

 as " hog tying." 



MATERIALS REQUIRED. 



The only implements nec- 

 essary for Castrating are a pj G 8. — Side of dehorning chute without gate. 



sharp knife and a pan con- 

 taining a 3 per cent solution of a standard disinfectant. An ordi- 

 nary pocketknife with a medium-sized blade will do. 



If the scrotum or bag is filthy it should be thoroughly washed with 

 the disinfectant, otherwise this will not be necessary. The knife 

 should be kept in the disinfectant at all times when not in use. 



Fig. 7. — Side of dehorning chute, showing gate. 



