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Y3 MOD Reproductive > Castration of calves and lambs > Flashcards

Castration of calves and lambs Flashcards

1
Q

A castrated bull is termed?

A

A steer/bullock

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2
Q

A bull becomes fertile at what age?

A

7 months

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3
Q

A castrated ram is termed?

A

A wether

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4
Q

Rams become fertile at what age?

A

Ram likely to become fertile at 4-6 months

(1st Autumn) as mostly seasonal breeders

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5
Q

What are some reasons for castration?

A
  • Behaviour: safer to handle and manage
  • Prevention of accidental pregnancies
  • Better carcass quality: increased fat deposition
  • Consumer pressure and tradition
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6
Q

What are some reasons not to castrate?

A
  • Welfare considerations: pain, stress, haemorrhage
  • Reduced growth rates in castrates
  • Growth setback at time of castration – earlier the better?
  • Arguably no difference / better carcass quality
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7
Q

In the uk what % of beef is from bulls?

A

10%
Better growth rate than castrate or heifer.
Leaner carcass

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8
Q

At what age are bulls slaughtered for beef?

A

12-15months

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9
Q

How can bull beef behaviour be prevented?

A

Remedy - keep intensively in small pens with pecking order. Do not keep outside
Ensure worker safety

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10
Q

When can castration of calves and lambs with rubber rings be carried out without local?

A

First 7 days of life

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11
Q

Describe castration without anaesthesia in calves

A

0 - 2 months

Trained, lay person aged 16 or over

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12
Q

Describe castration without anaesthesia in lambs

A

0 - 3 months

Trained lay person aged 16 or over

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13
Q

Describe castrating calves over 2 months?

A

Veterinary surgeon

Local anaesthetic required

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14
Q

Describe castrating lambs over 3 months?

A

Veterinary surgeon

Local anaesthetic required

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15
Q

What are the pros/cons of young castration?

A 
Less stress ?
Easier & safer.
Less risk to animal.
Less setback to growth.
Easier in some management systems e.g. indoor lambing
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16
Q

What are the pros/cons of older castration?

A
  • More stressful?
  • Increased danger to operator.
  • Increased risk to animal.
  • Better carcass quality?
  • Longer period of high growth rate.
  • Easier in some management systems e.g. suckler calves
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17
Q

What can be used to castrate animals less than one week old?

A

Rubber rings “Elastrator.”

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18
Q

What are some other castration methods?

A
  • Bloodless castration “Burdizzo”
  • Open castration “Knife”
  • Immuno-castration – antiGnRH vaccines? (NOT UK CURRENTLY)
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19
Q

Where should be blocked with local anaesthetic?

A

Spermatic cord
Subcutaneously into scrotum
Testes

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20
Q

Which LA is most commonly used for castration?

A

Procaine 5% + adrenaline

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21
Q

Describe the features of procaine

A

Cheap!
Amount depends on size and site
Takes 10-15 min onset and lasts 45-90mins

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22
Q

Stress of castration in lambs could lead to?

A

Water mouth

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23
Q

Describe the principles of using rubber rings for castration

A
  • Only in animals less than 1 week old
  • Ensure both testicles are included.
  • Care with hygiene – use new rings and clean equipment (tetanus risk)
  • Usually a farmer job
24
Q

Describe a bloodless castration

A

Ideally done in young calves and lambs only
↑ risk of failures in older animals
But can be difficult in very small testicles
Use correct sized clamp for size of animal

25
What are some key points to note about a bloodless castration?
- No chance of haemorrhage - Local analgesia - Risk of introducing infection with needle but remember the law if doing >2 months! - Clamp both sides - do not clamp across scrotum – offset your clamps!. - Do not include urethra ! - Check in 4-6 weeks for failures
26
Describe the features of an open castration
Suitable for any age No uncertainty – testicles are removed Less growth setback ? Less pain in larger beasts ?
27
Which castration technique has the most risks/complications?
Open castrate
28
Describe the risks associated with open castrations
- Haemorrhage: ensure haemostasis. - Herniation: check hernia not present. - Infection at wound site: ensure adequate drainage - Tetanus: vaccinate - “Covexin 8.” - Gut Tie: associated with recoil of spermatic cord into abdomen.
29
Describe the technique of open castrates in smaller calves
Slit the scrotum then twist and pull to break the spermatic cord
30
Describe the technique of open castrates in larger calves
Slit the scrotum then using emasculators to crush and cut the cord.
31
What are some key points for a successful surgical castration?
- Keep animals clean afterwards - outside is best (fly season – fly repellent needed?) - Restrain well - crush - Do not get injured - Adequate anaesthesia: wait 10 minutes. - U-shaped incision: ensures drainage. - Antibiotics ? - long acting Penicillin or Oxytetracyclines.
32
How can you resolve haemorrhage?
Pack with cotton wool if not too severe. | Identify spermatic cord and ligate
33
How can you resolve gross infection and swelling?
antibiotic +NSAID
34
How long should emasculators be held on for?
1 minute
35
Tri-solfen should be applied?
Topically after surgery
36
What are the components of tri-solfen?
Lidocaine, and Bupivacaine, = Analgesia Adrenalin = vasoconstriction Cetrimide = antiseptic
37
A bloodless castration is also termed?
Burdizzo
38
Why do farmers dehorn and disbud?
Safety - farmer, other animals
39
When should dehorning and disbudding occur and why?
``` “younger the better” Less stress for animal Less stress for operator – easier to handle Only do healthy animals Early = ↑chance of 100% success! ```
40
Describe the law of disbudding
It is illegal to disbud or dehorn without an anaesthetic unless you are using a chemical disbudder
41
How are different ages of calves/cows restrained for disbudding/dehorning
- Baby calves: Farmer holds calf (in a corner), dehorning crate - Older calves: hold – harder, dehorning crate - Adults: Cattle crush
42
When is dehorning paste applied?
Apply in first day of life | licence under 7 days, use illegal > 1 week
43
What are the key points when using dehorning paste
- Ensure not licked off - Separate from cow for 1-2 hours - 1.5 hours of dry weather - DEFRA code of welfare recommends against the use of chemical disbudding
44
Which nerve is blocked for disbudding?
Cornual branch of the lachrymal | Check not in artery or vein (pull back)
45
Describe disbudding baby calves
- Restrain - Inject local anaesthetic - Clip hair and identify horn bud - Burn hair/horn junction - “rotating action”
46
What are you aiming for when disbudding?
Clear copper ring
47
What else can be used to restraint older calves?
Xylazine - sedation
48
Describe disbudding older animals/adults
- Stressful (animal & operator) - Ensure good restraint - Ensure good local analgesia: 10 ml per side - Remember may need an extra block - Consider sedating: xylazine - Shears / wire / saw
49
Where on the horn are they removed?
Hair/horn junction | - control haemorrhage
50
How is haemorrhage controlled following dehorning?
``` Grasp vessels with artery forceps Twist and pull Vessel on cranio-ventral aspect Cauterise with hot iron If use wire – will cauterise as you cut ```
51
Describe the aftercare following disbudding/dehorning
``` Analgesia – NSAIDS Meloxicam authorised Fly control? Check for haemorrhage in older animals Older animals - infection: sinusitis ```
52
How is sinusitis treated in older cattle?
Tilt head to drain Hosepipe in hole – flush out Antibiotic? – penicillin, pen/strep Don’t panic!
53
Describe the injuries/risks of disbudding and dehorning
``` Fractured skulls: - Shears - Too much pressure with disbudder - Sharp disbudder Brain trauma/damage: - Sharp disbudder - Too hot disbudder ```
54
Describe disbudding of goats
- Few polled goats in the UK - Do young – under 7 days - Very large horn buds / germinal area - Ideally need larger diameter disbudding iron - Thin skulls - Require sedation / GA by law in the UK - No licensed drugs!
55
Adult goat horns are supplied by which nerves?
Cornual | Infratrochlear

Y3 MOD Reproductive (11 decks)

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