Castration + Dehorning of calves + lambs Flashcards
What is a castrated bull / ram?
Bull = steer / bullock
Ram = wether
Why would you castrate?
*Behaviour - safer to handle
*Prevention of pregnancies
*Better carcass quality
Why would you NOT castrate?
*Welfare - pain, stress
*Reduced growth rates
*Growth set back at time of castration
When should you rubber ring calves / lambs?
*First 7 days
What age can a trained person castrate with burdizzo?
*Calves = 0-2months
*Lambs = 0-3months
No analgesia required
What ages are vets required to castrate?
*Calves = over 2 months
*Lambs = over 3 months
Local anaesthetic required
What are the benefits of castrating younger?
*Easier + safer
*Less risk to animal
*Less setback to growth
*Easier in indoor lambing systems
What are the benefits of castrating when older?
*Longer period of high growth rate
*Easier in outdoor suckler calving systems
What are different methods of castration?
*Rubber rings
*Bloodless castration = burdizzo
*Open castration = knife
What analgesia is used? Where does it go?
*Local anaesthetic - Procaine - 10-15min onset
*Spermatic cord, subcut in scrotum + into testes
What needs to be done when castrating with rubber rings?
*Make sure to include both testicles
*Good hygiene - new + clean equipment
When would bloodless castration be more likely to fail?
*Older animals
When is bloodless castration preferred?
*Dirty conditions - no contamination
What are the benefits of open castrations?
*Suitable for any age
*No uncertainty - testicles = removed
*Less growth setback + less pain in large animals
What are risks associated with open castration?
- Haemorrhage
- Herniation
- Infection at wound site
- Tetanus - vaccinate
- Gut tie - associated with recoil of spermatic cord into abdomen
What are 2 different methods of open castration?
- Smaller calves = twist + pull to break the spermatic cord
- Larger calves = crush + cut with emasculators
What is key for successful surgical castration?
*Keep animal clean - outside after
*Restrain well
*Adequate anaesthesia
*U-shaped incision
*Antibiotics
How would you treat a haemorrhage?
*Pack with cotton wool, identify spermatic cord + ligate
How would you treat abscessation / infection?
Drain + antibiotics + NSAIDs
How would you treat a gut tie?
- Laparotomy
or - Slaughter
Why would you dehorn?
*Safety - to farmer + other animals
When should you dehorn?
*Young - less stress better success rate
- Avoid flies / or use fly repellent
What are the different ways of dehorning?
*Chemical = paste - must be done in first week of life
*Heat - must use anaesthetic
Where should you inject anaesthetic for dehorning?
*Cornual branch of lacrimal nerve - pull back to ensure not in artery / vein
How would you disbud? Step by step
- Restrain
- Inject local anaesthetic
- Clip hair + identify horn bud
- Burn hair / horn junction
*Rotating action till disbudded
*Consider xylazine to sedate animal with older calves
What should be done with aftercare of dehorned animals?
*NSAIDs
*Meloxicam
*Fly control
*Check for haemorrhage / infection in older animals
How would you treat sinusitis?
*Tilt head to drain
*Hosepipe in hole = flush out
*Antibiotics
What are potential risks of dehorning?
*Fractured skulls - too much pressure
*Brain trauma / damage = too hot disbudder
How would you disbud goats?
*Young - under 7 days
*V large horn buds = need larger diameter disbudding iron
*Thin skulls = need to be careful
*Require sedation by law
What nerves would you need to block if dehorning an adult goat?
*Cornual branch of lacrimal nerve
*Cornual branch of infratrochlear nerve
