Castration of pigs + cryptorchidism Flashcards
Why do perform castration of pigs?
Due to the consumers. The consumers want larger hams, and the farmers wait until the pig is 120kg, which normally is reached after sexual maturation.
After sexual maturation there is a special smell/odour in boars
Farmer want to avoid the unwanted sexual/aggressive behaviour
Which hormones will affect the smell/odour in boars?
Adrosterone and skatole
How many ways can a castration be done?
2
Hormone/chemical and physical
How does the chemical/hormonal castration work?
The injection is called “improvac”
it works by stimulating the pig’s immune system to produce antibodies against its gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and will block the testosterone. The vaccine will have behavioural consequences: no aggression, no sexual behaviour, there will be no smell and the daily weight gain and the fat deposition will increase.
In male pigs the first injection is from 8 weeks of age and the second 4 to 6 weeks and 4-5 weeks prior to slaughter in order for the complete immunity needs weeks to be completed.
Tell the different ages to perform castration when the rules change
before 7 days = no sedation
After 7 days = anaesthesia
Over 20kg = general anaesthesia
How to perform castration if the piglet is under 7 days?
Before 7 days we dont use anaesthesia.
We use a marker spray, ear protection and a scalpel. We separated the piglets and the sow, hold the piglet upside down with its legs spread. We either make one incision on the midline or two cuts over each testicle, we grasp the testicle, apply traction and cut the testicle.
How to perform castration if the piglet is over 7 days?
If the piglet is over 7 days old we need to use anaesthesia.
Sedate with azaperone and local anaesthesia in the testicle and in the skin of the scrotum, and wait for
5 minutes before cutting.
We use an emasculator.
What is this tool?
Emasculator
Its effect is to simultaneously crush and cut the spermatic cord, preventing haemorrhaging while still detaching the testis from the animal
How to perform castration if the pig is over 20 kg?
If the boar is OVER 20kg we need to use general anaesthesia, for both the welfare of the boar and for the safety of the surgeon.
We combine general with local anaesthesia, which goes into the testicle and under the skin of the scrotum. We can also consider lumbosacral anaesthesia, but the problem here is that the boar is completely paralyzed from the waist and down for several hours.
If the testicle fail to descend into the scrotum, what is it called?
Cryptorchidism
In which animals is Cryptorchidism common, and why?
in pigs and horses, because it is a hereditary problem and they are bred further on.
All farm animals need to be born with both testicles in the scrotum otherwise they are considered cryptorchids, and it shouldn’t be bred
What is the probable cause of Cryptorchidism?
The cryptorchidism is probably due to abnormal endocrine secretion.
The testicles of domestic animals normally pass from the abdomen to the scrotum at the following times.
How can we correct the cryptorchid?
We withhold feed for 24hrs and water for 12hrs and we prepare the ventral abdominal wall for sterile surgery.
On the ventral abdominal wall we make an 8-10 cm incision on the side of the retained testicle. The incision should be near the inguinal canal. If you do not locate the retained testicle, extend the length of the incision and explore the abdominal cavity again. If you cant locate the testicle, go into the abdominal cavity and search next to the kidney as this is where they usually develops.
Once we locate the restrained testicle, we take the testicle out and ligate the blood supply to the testicle, and remove the testicle. In the end we close the abdominal incision in three layers.
What are the postoperative care in case of cryptorchidism?
We give antibiotics as indicated and remove the sutures 14-21 days postop
