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CM Cattle

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Sep 28, 2008
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794
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Central Kentucky
My uncle banned some bulls two weeks ago for the first time. Not knowing what he was doing he didnt put some of the bands tight enough. One of the bulls nuts are swollen alot, and red. What should I do?
 

shortyjock89

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Mar 6, 2007
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IL
I'd get the bulls in and cut their nuts out this time.  And definitely give tetanus shots.
 

PaddyO

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Feb 11, 2009
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TETANUS 4 SURE. if he didn't already. They will get lock jawed and in a hurry. I agree, more than likely, they will fall off, but sometimes might leave some of the testicle or other left hanging out.
 

cowcrazy

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Mar 4, 2009
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This same thing happened with a show steer that we bought. He weighed about 500 pounds when we got him. Unfortunately, the day before we picked him up, the breeder banded him with the green rubber bands used to dock lambs tails.  He was still getting blood flow to "the area" and it got really nasty.  When I asked the breeder about it, he told me not to worry, that they would fall off in the pasture.  Not believing this, I took him to the vet where "it" was surgically removed.  The steer almost bled out, and had to have the area packed with gauze for several days while he recuperated at the vets office.  He turned out okay, but it sure set him back.  Just be careful, if you do cut them off, if there is still blood flow to the area.
 

ratmama2

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Jun 19, 2007
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Jeepers Zach...I am a woman and I either band or cut depending on age and weight. My husband has nothing to do with the cows. That comment could get ya lots of negative karma if all the women band together.
 

inthebarnagain

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Oct 10, 2007
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Indiana
zach said:
i'd bet some woman recommended banding them.....

Zach, Zach, Zach, don't come to my house or you will see the WOMAN cutting the calves.  I wouldn't use a band on a bet.  When I worked at the vet hospitals it was always the men who were banding animals, because they didn't have the cajones to cut them themselves.  I cut, my husband tails them. 
 

dori36

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Jul 29, 2007
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969
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Central Lower Michigan
ratmama2 said:
Jeepers Zach...I am a woman and I either band or cut depending on age and weight. My husband has nothing to do with the cows. That comment could get ya lots of negative karma if all the women band together.

Agreed!  And just an aside, the original post said the father "banned" the bulls.  Heck, being just a 'woman' I figured he disallowed the bulls from remaining in the herd and breeding the cows!  You know, like banning certain books from high school libraries!   (lol)  Who knew he was talking about removing the "nuts"!
 

TJ

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May 15, 2007
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2,036
CM Cattle said:
My uncle banned some bulls two weeks ago for the first time. Not knowing what he was doing he didnt put some of the bands tight enough. One of the bulls nuts are swollen alot, and red. What should I do?

The best thing to do is call a Vet!  With that said, I've seen some take longer than 2 weeks to fall off, but what I would recommend doing is banding him again (2 bands on him) if at all possible & get the newer band tighter.  It's hard to put a second one on, but it can be done.  Re-banding is what one of our Vets recommends.  Otherwise, I've heard that it's a pretty complicated procedure & can potentially result in death.  I absolutely wouldn't castrate him at this point without a Vet's recommendation & assistance. 

As others have said, give him a tetanus shot if you haven't already.     
 

TJ

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May 15, 2007
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2,036
cowcrazy said:
This same thing happened with a show steer that we bought. He weighed about 500 pounds when we got him. Unfortunately, the day before we picked him up, the breeder banded him with the green rubber bands used to dock lambs tails.  He was still getting blood flow to "the area" and it got really nasty.  When I asked the breeder about it, he told me not to worry, that they would fall off in the pasture.  Not believing this, I took him to the vet where "it" was surgically removed.  The steer almost bled out, and had to have the area packed with gauze for several days while he recuperated at the vets office.  He turned out okay, but it sure set him back.  Just be careful, if you do cut them off, if there is still blood flow to the area.

Exactly what I've been told.  That's why if it can be re-banded it's a lot better. 
 
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