Castrating Simmental Calf

[ESC]

Hello we currently have a 5-6 month old Simmental calf, should we castrate him. The opinions I have heard are different. Our main points are reducing agression, letting it live and graze with his mom even after weaned (for social interaction) and keeping him for his whole lifespan because we aren’t in this for profit and I think of my animals as pets so slaughter or selling isn’t an option. What should we do? Thanks for the support!

 

[betternextyear]

Get it castrated. If you are hobby farmers why take the risk and inconvenience of having a bull around. Tame bulls are just as dangerous as normal bulls.

 

[Timbo]

Castrate by surgical means (i.e. remove testicles) but be aware of infection given there will be an open wound.

 

[ESC]

Thanks for all the input, that’s what we’ll do probably.

 

[TripleSix]

Get those plums cut off, do it before the weather warms up so flies aren't a nuisance

 

[roscoe erf]

all the evidence you need as to why some people are unfit to keep animal's

 

[Netherfield]

Incest springs to mind.

 

[Agrivator]

If you leave him entire, he will soon grow up and bull his mother. The resulting calf will be fine, but if it's a bull calf, and you also leave it entire, it will soon grow up, and just like humans, will start to fight with his brother.

Your fences will be demolished and you will end up with two bulls that are a complete nuisance. So as others have said, get it orchestrated.

You can use two bricks. It isn't painful unless you catch your fingers between them.

 

[gatepost]

Hello we currently have a 5-6 month old Simmental calf, should we castrate him. The opinions I have heard are different. Our main points are reducing agression, letting it live and graze with his mom even after weaned (for social interaction) and keeping him for his whole lifespan because we aren’t in this for profit and I think of my animals as pets so slaughter or selling isn’t an option. What should we do? Thanks for the support!

Yes, get the vet to do it, happy life.

 

[primmiemoo]

Having once made the mistake of leaving a batch of bucket reared Sim bull calves entire until 5 months, I would think that bull behaviour has already set in the OP's calf.
Had Hereford and Charolais bull calves done at that age without upset, but the Sims were real trouble.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Get it castrated. If you are hobby farmers why take the risk and inconvenience of having a bull around. Tame bulls are just as dangerous as normal bulls.

I worked on a farm in Denmark, and they told me their old bull, they raised from a calf and because they knew he would be kept, everyone made a fuss of him and when he was fully grown was dangerous, he had no fear of people, had to send him off for everyone's safety.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Having once made the mistake of leaving a batch of bucket reared Sim bull calves entire until 5 months, I would think that bull behaviour has already set in the OP's calf.
Had Hereford and Charolais bull calves done at that age without upset, but the Sims were real trouble.

but you do get the advantage of muscly growth with all the testosterone flowing round his system, but in the balance of things, I now use a rubber ring, found a budizzo hard to use, I haven't got enough arms!

 

[primmiemoo]

but you do get the advantage of muscly growth with all the testosterone flowing round his system, but in the balance of things, I now use a rubber ring, found a budizzo hard to use, I haven't got enough arms!

Growth + muscles + red mist = scary things!

 

[Ffermer Bach]

The thing that put me off castrating at 6 to 9 months old was, partly the vet bill, and the worry about flies and infections and to be honest, I like to do things as easily as possible so a rubber ring in the first week ticked all my boxes.

 

[primmiemoo]

The thing that put me off castrating at 6 to 9 months old was, partly the vet bill, and the worry about flies and infections and to be honest, I like to do things as easily as possible so a rubber ring in the first week ticked all my boxes.

That's how it was with the suckler calves. Much simpler all round. Bought in, though, hardly any young bull calves go through market, so bought ins were a two person job with burdizzo once the calves were settled ~ after that initial mistake.