Docking and Castrating Flashcards
Reasons for docking sheep
Less filth
Fewer maggots
No breeding interference
Improves appearance
Where are tails dock?
1” from the body
Between the 4th and 5th coccygeal vertebrae
When are lambs docked?
One week to 10 days of age - at least by 14 days of age
On a warm, dry clear day
What are the methods of docking?
Knife Rubber bands Hot chisel and board Burdizzo Emasculator 3-in-1 docking-castrating-ear tagging tool
Rubber bands docking method
Bloodless
Long pain
Tetanus
Knife docking method
Sharp but not razor sharp to prevent too much bleeding; rapid healing
Hot chisel and board docking method
Heat prevents bleeding (excessive) - sterilize
Longer than other methods to heal
Can’t use for castrating (will need two different tools)
Burdizzo docking method
Crushes bones in tail
Use the knife to cut tail off
Emasculator docking method
Crushes and cuts tail (use for docking only)
Antiseptics for docking
5% carbolic acid Antibiotic powder (ABC powder)
Advantages for castrating
1) Run ewes and wethers together
2) Higher dressing percent (not really an advantage because increased yield will be FAT)
3) Highest quality meat
4) No discrimination by buyer
5) No chance of lamb not making market weight before reaching sexual maturity (approx. 6-8 mo). Wethers can go as feeders - rams can’t
Reasons for not castrating
1) 5-7% faster ADG and feed efficiency than wethers
2) Carcass yields greater % lean cuts
3) Reach market earlier
When to castrate
7-10 days
Clean dry and warm day
Methods of castrating
- ) Teeth
- ) Knife
- ) Burdizzo
- ) Elastrator - rubber bands
The knife castrating method
Knife may not be clean
Heals rapidly
