Castration Flashcards
Why are farm animals most commonly castrated?
- control unwanted breeding - inbreeding, out of season, heifers
- improve meat quality - bulls tend to be more lean and less marbled (tender), boar and buck meat tend to have an odor
- decrease dangerous behaviors
When is it recommended to castrate farm animals? What are 2 exceptions?
as early in life as possible, can be done day one if both testicles have dropped
- small ruminants - early castration can cause the diameter of the urethra to be smaller, making obstructions with calculi more common (tend to castrate pets at 4-5 months)
- show cattle - testosterone quickens growth
What are some major concerns about castrating farm animals?
- urinary calculi in small ruminants
- feedlots
- lidocaine toxicity in goats
- tetanus
- fly strike
- bleeding
Testicular anatomy:
Testicle, blood supply:
What should be done if only one testicle has dropped?
prolong castration until the other testicle is identified
What piece of equipment is this?
Newberry knife —> cuts into scrotum and creates a flap to allow testicles to drop out
What piece of equipment is this?
Elastrator —> castrator
What piece of equipment is this?
Burdizzo —> clamp castrator
What piece of equipment is this?
Emasculator —> crush and cut the spermatic cord
What piece of equipment is this?
Henderson —> opens scrotum, spins spermatic cord to snap without bleeding
What piece of equipment is this?
Callicrate bander
In what situations are elastrators recommended? How does it work?
young calves, lambs, and kids < 1 month old
band occludes circulation from reaching testicles, resulting in tissue distal to the band rot/necrose off within 2-3 weeks
What 4 complications are associated with using elastrators?
- some miss both testicles
- tetanus
- usage on tissue that is too thick
- rubber can disintegrate in the sun and lose elasticity
In what situations is simple cutting a good option for castration? What equipment is used?
young calves up to ~ 6 months (depending on the size of testicles)
- knife
- scalpel
- Newberry knife
- towel forceps to hold onto scrotum and avoid cutting own finger
What 3 complications are associated with simple cutting?
- fly strike - use fly spray
- hemorrhage - larger testicles have larger arterial supply, can pack with gauze
- when using the Newberry knife, the leftover scrotal flap can seal and full with fat or connective tissue, making the cattle look intact
How is the Newberry knife used?
- Lidocaine into cord proximally +/- scrotal tip
- poke knife between testicles and pull down
- this results in a flap of scrotum that the testicles can be pulled out off
How is a scalpel used to castrate?
- Lidocaine into cord proximally +/- scrotal tip
- use towel clamps to grip the tip of the scrotum for stabilization and to protect fingers
- cut off the lower half of the scrotum
- grab higher above on the testicle and strip fascia one at a time
- pull slowly down and back to remove testicle, may need to cut vas deferens
In what cases are emasculators the best tool for castration?
older calves with larger testicles
How do emasculators work?
- cut open the scrotum, but do not pull the testicles
- crimping edge pointed toward tissue remaining on the body crush the spermatic cord
- cutting edge pointed toward testicles cuts them off within the scrotum (nut to nut!)
What is the correct placement of emasculators?
nut to nut
- crimping edge toward body
- cutting edge toward testicles
In what cases do emasculatomes work best? How do they compare to other tools?
(burdizzo) - can technically be used in all sized males, but can be overkill for smaller males
- awkward to use
- should do one spermatic cord at a time
- bloodless castration = no fly strike problems
What tool is being used?
Burdizzo emasculatome
- snaps/crushes vas deferens one at a time
In what situation is a Callicrate bander or EZE bander most appropriate? How does it compare to other methods?
older calves and mature bulls
- bloodless castration = no fly strike
- tetanus vaccine recommended
- more expensive - need to buy bands
How do Callicrate/EZE banders work?
- place rubber tubing around the base of the scrotum
- tighten
- once all the way, crimp the tubing and cut it
Callicrate bander result:
What is this tool?
Callicrate bander
Callicrate bander:
- both testicles within
- tool self-tightens until the notch rests on the back of the opening
- recommend placing Lidocaine at place where the band is placed —> tightening hurts until feeling is lost
In what situation do Henderson castration tools work best? What is required for it to work?
larger testicles where hemorrhage may be a post-op complication
drill —> tool spins and twists spermatic cord until it severs, only used on one testicle at a time
What is this tool?
California bloodless bander
What physical restraint is recommended for castration of pigs?
dorsal recumbency between legs, hold onto hindlimbs
- each testicle done once at a time
- cut over testicles, median raphe associated with increased bleeding
What 6 complications are associated with pig castrations?
- scirrhous cord - inadequate drainage
- inguinal hernia
- tetanus
- abscess
- fly strike - healing by second intention
- cellulitis
What is done if a pig is monorchid?
don’t castrate yet, wait until second one drops or may require an abdominal exploratory
What landmark is used for docking sheep tails? Why?
where caudal tail fold convene
helps avoid rectal/vaginal prolapse
