swelling on banded bull

[braunvieh]

We have a bull that was banded about 10 days ago, with an apparent infection now. He has swelling and hardness above the band and I  believe even in his sheath. He is eating fine but seems a little off. I gave him some penicillin, as the vet instructed over the phone. We have banded over 500 bulls and never had this happen. Any thoughts? Does the scrotum need to be cut off  or will it bleed alot? He was given a tetanus shot at banding. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jenny]

We used to band all of our bull calves at about 700 lbs.  However, the vets around here, South Dakota, do not like to band anymore.
One problem has been tetnus, another problem has been the swelling like you have and the worst I have seen is when the band seems to
tear off partly and you have skin and flesh hanging down along with the band.

You are correct to be giving the penicillin...did they tell you to start it off at a mega dose and then back down to a more normal dose?
Be sure you give it all 5 days or even longer if needed.  Would not hurt to cut off the scrotum and the band but don't know if it would help
so much either. 

The vets here now prefer an open wound very much over the closed one that a band creates. 
Curious what Dragon Lady would say on this topic.

Our vets use a cordless powerdrill now that twists the testicles off thereby closing the blood vessels, after the scrotum is opened up with a knife.  There is basically no
bleeding at all and you also have the advantage of an open wound.

 

[dori36]

From Jenny:  <<...Our vets use a cordless powerdrill now that twists the testicles off thereby closing the blood vessels, after the scrotum is opened up with a knife.  There is basically no
bleeding at all and you also have the advantage of an open wound.>>

Sorry, but I'm imagining the look on all the guys' faces here as they read this description of removing the testicles!!  (dog)

 

[Doc]

Our vets use a cordless powerdrill now that twists the testicles off thereby closing the blood vessels, after the scrotum is opened up with a knife.  There is basically no
bleeding at all and you also have the advantage of an open wound.

You start talking like that & I'm ready to confess to being the accomplice to the murder of JFK & also tell you where the "Lost City Of Gold" is located. ;D
I bet PETA would have a field day with doing it that way.

 

[chambero]

I think too many people are scared at sight of a little blood.  Blades work just fine for removal of the scrotum and the testicles.  I'll never understand jumping through the hoops people do just to avoid true cutting.  I guarantee its only for our perceived benefit vs. the animals.  Get it over with!

 

[knabe]

PETA

pandemic ébrillade testicle abattoir

 

[simtal]

we band bulls that don't make a bull sale (so yearlings) regularly.  Yeah, they swell and they look like trampled dog shat but 45 days they fall off and look fine.

 

[xxcc]

couple things...first, did you get the band tight enough?  most banders have an indicator that tells you (some people don't know that and think it's just part of the gizmo that they don't understand).  second, we generally try to give a shot of tetanus toxoid (of some sort, whether it be in C&D, or a straight out tetanus shot) 3-7 days prior to banding and another when you band them.  third, we cut the sack off 3-10 days after banding.  a good way to tell is if the sack itself is cold.  use a scalpel or very sharp utinsel soaked in Iodine or Nolvasan or something.  fourth, we administer a 1.5cc/cwt dose of penicillin at the time of scrotal removal, just in case there is an infection that you may not even detect yet.

my thoughts, your band wasn't tight enough...maybe from something as minimal as an abnormal testicular development.  since you probably a) didn't cut the sack off soon enough and b) didn't give penicillin when you cut the sack off, then there was nowhere for the infection to go but up.  sorry, I learned the hard way too.

 

[xxcc]

i forgot, in addition to the penicillin, maybe give the guy a blast of banamine.

 

[BCCC]

We normally run ours through a week after we band them and cut the sack off, and give penicillin.

 

[aj]

We banded 20 some bulls after weaning and didn't have problems but they gave a tetnous shot. Dear Jenny...I worked in a feedlot and the cowboys tried the powerdrill deal but the opted against it in the end. Lester nicknamed the process "the black and decker pecker wrecker". Guess you kinda had to be there(cowboy humor.)

 

[aj]

How about"Dewalt teste default"? ;D

 

[KT]

LOL AJ.
Our local vets do all of our post weaning "chute work".  It is their method of choice and we have just had super results with it.
They were also the ones that did the banding that did not turn out very well for us either....they do tens of thousands of calves
per year here because we are in the heartland of cattle country.  They also are the vets for the local salebarn that can sell 5000
head of calves per week during the busy feeder calf sale months.
I think that whatever works the best.  Maybe different people have different little ways of doing each, but I think we are all after
the way that causes the least amount of stress and discomfort to the animal so that we can sustain a positive gain for the calf
throughout the feeding period.  That is what feeding cattle is all about anyway to me; I always say, time is money.  The less time
an animal is on feed, the less feed they eat, the quicker you get a return on your money.  It only makes the best of sense to give an
animal the utmost in comfort and care...for the good of them and the good of our pocketbooks...you listening PETA?

 

[farwest]

Banded a group once and never again. Use a sharp disinfected knife and get it over with.

 

[rex]

you guys talking about a nut band