Bloodless castration lambs

[Woolless]

Decided that I'm going to castrate the non-recorded male twin lambs this year, to give me more marketing and management options. I don't particularly like rubber ringing lambs and certainly don't want to do that over lambing.

The plan is to gather them field by field after lambing and I was thinking burdizzo could be a good option. Used them years ago on calves a bit and remember seeing them used on blackie lambs at marking time when I was a student but never used them on lambs. How do folks get on with them?

 

[GTB]

Decided that I'm going to castrate the non-recorded male twin lambs this year, to give me more marketing and management options. I don't particularly like rubber ringing lambs and certainly don't want to do that over lambing.

The plan is to gather them field by field after lambing and I was thinking burdizzo could be a good option. Used them years ago on calves a bit and remember seeing them used on blackie lambs at marking time when I was a student but never used them on lambs. How do folks get on with them?

We used to use them years ago on lambs around May time. We had a small Burdizzo for lambs that you could use with one hand, with the other hand holding the scrotum and cord in place. You'll need someone to hold the lamb on a bench or bale for you.

 

[Woolless]

We used to use them years ago on lambs around May time. We had a small Burdizzo for lambs that you could use with one hand, with the other hand holding the scrotum and cord in place. You'll need someone to hold the lamb on a bench or bale for you.

I priced up a docking chute and got an unpleasant shock but Shearwell sell a Te Pari docking cradle which is more reasonable.

Did you have many issues or failures?

 

[GTB]

I priced up a docking chute and got an unpleasant shock but Shearwell sell a Te Pari docking cradle which is more reasonable.

Did you have many issues or failures?

No issues or failures. Stopped doing it because the Welsh lambs we had at the time didn't grow as well after castrating. Also come the Autumn many a nice lamb walking about with no balls and thinking to myself "who the hell castrated that one?"

 

[Woolless]

No issues or failures. Stopped doing it because the Welsh lambs we had at the time didn't grow as well after castrating. Also come the Autumn many a nice lamb walking about with no balls and thinking to myself "who the hell castrated that one?"

Ha, that's why I only castrate the recorded lambs about which I am certain that I wouldn't sell or use them as tups. These will be Hampshire x in the main, with a few unrecorded Easycares.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Bloody hell nipping lambs over rubber ringing them?! I know which is more of a ball ache...and I don't mean for the lambs!

 

[Woolless]

The burdizzo can be used without anaesthetic at older than a week, plus no open wound and I would think less ongoing pain. But yes, rings would be a lot easier.

 

[sheepdip]

I have been wondering about the same thing, but never seen or heard of them used on lambs. Does one squeeze right across do both sides, or do you go in from the side and do each side separately?

 

[GTB]

Whats the legal situation re bagging i.e. pushing the balls up into the belly and rubber ringing the scrotum only. Can this be done at an older age?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Does one squeeze right across do both sides, ?

Only if you want to ruin them

 

[Woolless]

Each side separately. If you go straith across the bottom of the scrotum dies off.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Whats the legal situation re bagging i.e. pushing the balls up into the belly and rubber ringing the scrotum only. Can this be done at an older age?

They'll still be able to tup?

 

[GTB]

I have been wondering about the same thing, but never seen or heard of them used on lambs. Does one squeeze right across do both sides, or do you go in from the side and do each side separately?

Each side separately. Very difficult unless you have a small burdizzo

 

[Woolless]

Whats the legal situation re bagging i.e. pushing the balls up into the belly and rubber ringing the scrotum only. Can this be done at an older age?

I think it would still need to be under seven days or use anaesthetic.

 

[GTB]

They'll still be able to tup?

Apparently not as the body heat makes them infertile but the urge is still there as is the growth I believe.

 

[Nithsdale]

Whats the legal situation re bagging i.e. pushing the balls up into the belly and rubber ringing the scrotum only. Can this be done at an older age?

Rubber bands are only legal if done within first 7 days. Regardless of what your doing...

 

[unlacedgecko]

Makes sense to me. If you do that and then got dock or don't dock there will be no open wounds on processed lambs. Could it down on joint ill?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Apparently not as the body heat makes them infertile but the urge is still there as is the growth I believe.

Not sure I'd want to risk it,

 

[GTB]

I think it would still need to be under seven days or use anaesthetic.

Probably but it is far less painfull.

 

[Nithsdale]

We used to Burdizzo everything in May - tails and balls. (Do the tail then take it off with sharp knife).

I would never, ever go back to it. I band everything at birth and it doesn't feel like a job... I can do all lambs myself.

It was a minimum 2 man job with the Burdizzo. 1 man on either side of a waist high gate. 1 catches the lamb and presents it 'sat' on top of the gate, the other works the Burdizzo. It was non stop if you had 2 men catching... we got the neighbours to help - 2 Burdizzo men and 4 catchers.

Miss the social side of it, and the banter. But the job is much better these days. And IMO the castrated lambs don't take the check/stunt they used to after it.