Reproductive Surgery in Large Animals

Question 1

Advantages to farm animal castration?

Answer 1

Prevents indiscriminate mating
Reduces aggression
Reduces taint of boar and bull
Improves carcass - more fat

Question 2

Disadvantages of farm animal castration?

Answer 2

Pain
Reduced growth and feed conversion
Consumers don’t like fat
Loss of potential breeding animal

Question 3

What is the legislation for castration anaesthesia in farm animals?

Answer 3

Required for bulls and goats >2months
Rams >3months
Elastor ring only for animals <1week

Question 4

What are the advantages and disadvantages to elastrator rings?

Answer 4

Advantages:
Simple, low failure rate

Dis:
Pain, necrosis of tissue, <1week, must make sure both testicles present

Question 5

What are the advantages and disadvantages of burdizzo castration?

Answer 5

Advantages:
No wound

Dis:
Pain, high failure rate, scrotal ischaemia, crush sigmoid flexure

Question 6

What is the technique for using a burdizzo?

Answer 6

Draw right test into ventral scrotal sac
Hold spermatic cord firm against lateral edge of neck of scrotum
Clamp cord 4cm above testes
Second clamp 1cm distal to first
Repeat for left testis, leave gap between left and right crush marks

Question 7

Complications of burdizzo?

Answer 7

Failure to crush cord
Scrotal necrosis
Accidental clamping of sigmoid flexure

Question 8

What anaesthesia should be used in an open castration of farm animals?

Answer 8

3-5ml procaine each side

NSAIDs post-op

Question 9

What is the procedure for an open castration in farm animals?

Answer 9

Make a J shaped incision through skin, dartos and vaginal tunic down to the testis
Remove testis (pull and twist)
Repeat on second testis

Question 10

What are the differences in procedure for open castration in ram and boars?

Answer 10

Rams = lamb cut off bottom of scrotum using local, rams use epidural

Boars = subanal position, cut and pull when young. Sedation/epidural/GA required

Question 11

What are some complications involved in open castration of farm animals?

Answer 11

Haemorrhage
Post op oedema and infection
Gut tie
Inguinal herniation

Question 12

What are some indications for carrying out a C-section in farm animals?

Answer 12

Foeto-maternal disproportion
Incomplete cervical dilation
Irreducible uterine torsion
Foetal deformity
Fault foetal disposition

Question 13

What is needed for a C-section on a standing cow?

Answer 13

Halter with right flank against the wall
Bulldogs in nose
Rope on right hind limb and tail tied to right hind limb
Clenbuterol (care of law!)
Epidural
Xylazine 0.8-1ml IV
- Can affect calf
- Can make them lie down

Question 14

What is needed for a C-section on a recumbent cow?

Answer 14

Cast/use xylazine
Clenbuterol
Tie tail and hobble legs
Semi-lateral recumbency with bale behind shoulder

Question 15

What are the anaesthesia option for a C-section in farm animals?

Answer 15

Paravertebral: T13, L1, L2, L3
Local block: line/inverted L
Epidural if straining

Question 16

What size suture material is needed for a C-section in a cow?

Answer 16

5-8M catgut

Question 17

What are some intraop complications of a C-section in farm animals?

Answer 17

Straining
Incised rumen
Uterine tear
Haemorrhage
Recumbency
Contamination
Death

Question 18

What are come post-op complication of a C-section in farm animals?

Answer 18

Wound infection
Endo/metritis
Peritonitis
Sepsis
Adhesions
Infertility/sub-production
Death

Question 19

What extra care needs to be taken in the C-section of a small ruminant?

Answer 19

Paper thin uterus
Horn torsion
Thin body wall

Question 20

Why should an open castration of a farm animal use an incision at the bottom of the scrotum?

Answer 20

To allow for drainage post-op