Calf castration.

[cyffylog]

For the first time I have a Xbred suckler calf with only one testicle to be found.

It is a week old tomorrow, and thus (I believe) now too old for legal and welfare reasons to be rubber-ring castrated if the testicle should appear.

I normally use the ring on lambs and calves at 1 day old, believing the younger the better, but not familiar with the law.

Am I correct ? and what experience have others had in such circumstances in regard to subsequent full castration by Burdizzo or Vet, and is the missing testicle likely to emerge?

Cyffylog

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Yes it could well drop as it gets older...I’ve had several drop as they get older

 

[Hummin-Cummins]

As above, sometimes it can take a while to drop although some never appear

 

[neilo]

As above, sometimes it can take a while to drop although some never appear

Some are just never there in the first place.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I've seen one post-slaughter with his other testicle nestled away on up towards his bladder.
Even an experienced meat-inspector-vet couldn't really say how or why, but it was!
So there is really no saying for sure .

Especially if you can't feel the lump for trying, or even the weight of a lump

 

[Treecreeper]

Always get at least one a year that you can't get both, if you can't get both don't ring. They will normally drop enough at 9mths for the vet to do. Having said that last year we had one on a very short cord that the vet said was a bit risky so left it and separated the beast sold fat at around 16mths.