When to castrate?

[rf21970]

Vet told us $$$$$$$$$$$ were the signs that mattered most.

 

[CAB]

Thanks BRdoc. I'll be watching for  signs. Brent

 

[flacowman]

And I can tel ou for a fact that the moon affects whether you'll have enough dirt left over to repack a post hole.  Some phases you won't have enough and some you'll have half again as much as you need.  I'm not sure why but my Granddaddy taught me that and I have seen it to be true

 

[leanbeef]

And I can tel ou for a fact that the moon affects whether you'll have enough dirt left over to repack a post hole.  Some phases you won't have enough and some you'll have half again as much as you need.  I'm not sure why but my Granddaddy taught me that and I have seen it to be true

This seems bizarre to me, and I believe in signs! I'm not saying it isn't true...I just never heard that or thot about it. But I have seen it! It's to think about how many things could be controlled or influenced by things most of us don't quite understand or might not be able to wrap our head around. Or might not believe in...

That's cool. So when do you dig post holes according to the signs?

 

[PDJ]

I know this didn't start off as a thread on castration technique, but since we seem to be covering that topic as well as WHEN to castrate... I slice off the bottom 1/3 of the scrotum & pull each one out one at a time. The cords will pull completely out & strip themselves, and if the calf is young enough, it's relatively easy. One at a time...pull straight down...it'll pull right out. If he's several months old, say close to weaning age, you probably will have to cut the cord. Like I said before...scrape it in two with a sharp blade...don't slice it off. A clean incision will promote more bleeding & it needs to clot. If the cords are stripped, there's a lot less bleeding & it heals faster with less potential for infection.

We castrate a lot at weaning time, as we wait to see which bulls will be kept intact.  Usually we also remove the bottom of the scrotum, then crush the cords with an emasculator, like what is used to dock lamb tails.

 

[Heifer Girl]

We have always done it 1-3 months old and that is what the herdsman manual says as well.