Cryptorchid lambs

[David.]

Do they still grow stub horns to get caught in the netting, same as entires, guess they must.

 

[VMD100]

Not sure on the legality of this in the UK but not sure welfare wise how good it is?
While fertility is reduced by temperature it is not eliminated - ring castration is atleast 100% effective if applied correctly, this would not be

 

[liammogs]

Been talk a lot of fatstock exhibitors are up to this trick

 

[Bury the Trash]

beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/research/animal-health-and-welfare-sheep/the-short-scrotum-method-of-castration-in-lambs/

beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/research/animal-health-and-welfare-sheep/





'Final report' in the blue link at the bottom of the page.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I thought the practise was illegal in this country.

Entire or castrated is my preference.

From what I can see, it's actually legal.
And less painful.

 

[gatepost]

From what I can see, it's actually legal.
And less painful.

How do we know if it's less painful, compared to a whole lifetime of wearing trousers like a cheap council house, no ballroom!

 

[Bury the Trash]

How do we know if it's less painful, compared to a whole lifetime of wearing trousers like a cheap council house, no ballroom!

I'm just quoting the report / results

 

[CornishRanger]

I've seen it work, a fraction of the discomfort at ringing and as far as I am aware no unwanted pregnancies. Still being used a few years on so must be something in it. I have heard that markets (or maybe just buyers) are not so keen on them over here as our south hemisphere colleagues seem to be.

 

[Bury the Trash]

That's because they sell all dw.or stores direct to a known buyer finishers not market / saleyard auction job ?

What about discomfort later on after ringing ..?. I'm never that comfortable in tight trousers or pants ...as @gatepost also mentions....

 

[CornishRanger]

They never show any discomfort, I guess they never really know any different. I would suspect that it would affect their growth rates if they were left at all uncomfortable. Apparently tight trousers are back in fashion, either that or someone needs to explain to these young lads what "getting into her trousers" actually means....

 

[gatepost]

Personally I think it's one of those things that might make sense in theory , but would go down with the general public very well!! at a time when you want them on our side, can you imagine the response after a , Tom Heap country file report? and the only time I've seen it done, ended in a disaster and very expensive finishing of a lot of out of spec ram lambs, which appeared to be very angry at having tight trousers.

 

[CornishRanger]

I wonder if castration would go down any better if the media put their spin on it?

 

[Global ovine]

Personally I think it's one of those things that might make sense in theory , but would go down with the general public very well!! at a time when you want them on our side, can you imagine the response after a , Tom Heap country file report? and the only time I've seen it done, ended in a disaster and very expensive finishing of a lot of out of spec ram lambs, which appeared to be very angry at having tight trousers.

There is an increasing number of NZ farmers no longer tail docking as they incorporate short tail (usually bare tailed too) genetics into their maternal self replacing flocks. On recent discussion with two of these farmers, both are adamant with scrotum ringing at a month of age there is no writhing on the ground for half an hour as there is with elastrator rings on the tail. They conclude that discomfort is minimal and very short in duration. I would also like to point out that testes size is quite reduced when held higher, not the large goulies that develop in full scrotum post pubescent ram lambs. All this mention of tight trousers is another humanising reaction to which we as farmers usually have to defend our industry against from naive animal rights activists.
Crypt lambs will behave as ram lambs by the autumn. However their superior growth usually means they have met slaughter target weights well before autumn when testosterone starts ruling their attitude.
Merinos are usually wethered as they are wintered, shorn in spring (2.5 kgs of fleece at about $14.00/kg), finished to over 18kg carcass before they cut their adult teeth. Hence entire rams are undesirable in such slow growing breeds.
Premiums are paid for crypt lambs in NZ because they grow faster, have higher meat yields and don't go over spec with fatness.

 

[gatepost]

There is an increasing number of NZ farmers no longer tail docking as they incorporate short tail (usually bare tailed too) genetics into their maternal self replacing flocks. On recent discussion with two of these farmers, both are adamant with scrotum ringing at a month of age there is no writhing on the ground for half an hour as there is with elastrator rings on the tail. They conclude that discomfort is minimal and very short in duration. I would also like to point out that testes size is quite reduced when held higher, not the large goulies that develop in full scrotum post pubescent ram lambs. All this mention of tight trousers is another humanising reaction to which we as farmers usually have to defend our industry against from naive animal rights activists.
Crypt lambs will behave as ram lambs by the autumn. However their superior growth usually means they have met slaughter target weights well before autumn when testosterone starts ruling their attitude.
Merinos are usually wethered as they are wintered, shorn in spring (2.5 kgs of fleece at about $14.00/kg), finished to over 18kg carcass before they cut their adult teeth. Hence entire rams are undesirable in such slow growing breeds.
Premiums are paid for crypt lambs in NZ because they grow faster, have higher meat yields and don't go over spec with fatness.

I take your points, and you have as usual hit the nail on the head, most UK producers would think 18kg as being too light, NZ producers understand selling to a spec, because you have to, you produce for your market, The humanisation is relevant, on this crowded island we farm cheek by jowl with our customers and detractors looking over our shoulders, just looking for a proverbial rod to beat our backs, care must be taken to not give fuel to the fire.