Farmers who dont castrate with rings, what are your thoughts?

[wurzelfan]

Interested to hear what people think about castration pain, esp when using rubber rings.
I was taught years ago its only discomfort and countryfile says the same, but have come across some info saying otherwise. Thoughts?

 

[mixed farm]

Interested to hear what people think about castration pain, esp when using rubber rings.
I was taught years ago it's only 'discomfort' and countryfile says the same, but have recently come across some convincing info saying otherwise. Thoughts?

I wouldn't want it done to me.

 

[Beef farmer]

Now please don't take this the wrong way, but this as a 1st posts stinks of a fishing trip.

 

[Beef farmer]

Strong 1st post

 

[deleted user 837354]

Are we talking calves or lambs?

Regarding cattle, I will never understand why anyone would want to opt to cut for castration when a beast is older. There is the health and safety angle and the risk of post-surgical complications, infection and flies. It also sets them back in terms of growth. None of it is ideal but the ring I view as the least problematic option provided it is done soon after birth.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Now please don't take this the wrong way, but this as a 1st posts stinks of a fishing trip.

Now you mention it I fear you are correct. Will summon the alarm meme if necessary.

 

[jerseycowsman]

Interested to hear what people think about castration pain, esp when using rubber rings.
I was taught years ago it's only 'discomfort' and countryfile says the same, but have recently come across some convincing info saying otherwise. Thoughts?

Where was the convincing information from ?

 

[Jdunn55]

Now you mention it I fear you are correct. Will summon the alarm meme if necessary.

To be fair to the op, if we didn't castrated them and saved the pain we would have plenty of bulls to serve all the cows and heifers so wouldn't need to AI/forcibly impregnate them!! It's a win win

I am being sarcastic just in case no one realised, and if the op is genuine then apologies, if not then

 

[dinderleat]

Are we talking calves or lambs?

Regarding cattle, I will never understand why anyone would want to opt to cut for castration when a beast is older. There is the health and safety angle and the risk of post-surgical complications, infection and flies. It also sets them back in terms of growth. None of it is ideal but the ring I view as the least problematic option provided it is done soon after birth.

Yep spot on we have to use metacam When using rings so hopefully they should be pain free if there is any.

 

[Jdunn55]

Yep spot on we have to use metacam When using rings so hopefully they should be pain free if there is any.

Do you do that as a one-off dose or give a second one after a few days?

 

[deleted user 837354]

Yep spot on we have to use metacam When using rings so hopefully they should be pain free if there is any.

As you may imagine I have been heavily indoctrinated by my significant other though was taught the knife method at college and done hundreds in the past but didn't really rate it.

 

[jerseycowsman]

Wonder how many farmers opt out of rubber ring castration and why. What methods do you choose instead? What are your views on pain of castration with rings?

If you’re not a vegan, thrn apologies.
We castrates bulls because we’re heartless farmers who like to cause maximum pain and suffering to animals whilst also making money out of animals that are in pain and in awful conditions. See the contradiction there?
we castrate then to stop them killing each other and us and to stop them shagging their sisters at 6 months old!
Rings don’t hurt below 3 months of age. An animal in pain, like a lame cow, will go backwards. We wouldn’t do it if it caused them pain, as they would go backwards and we would loose money

 

[betweenthelines]

Interested to hear what people think about castration pain, esp when using rubber rings.
I was taught years ago it's only 'discomfort' and countryfile says the same, but have recently come across some convincing info saying otherwise. Thoughts?

Why not share the evidence?

Or what your interest is in farming?

As others have said, bit odd that you come on here and your first post is about castration

 

[dinderleat]

Do you do that as a one-off dose or give a second one after a few days?

One off dose

 

[Netherfield]

OP might have passed out with pain

 

[deleted user 837354]

OP might have passed out with pain

Or is furiously at work trying to find the clearance for a hacksaw to work....

 

[dinderleat]

As you may imagine I have been heavily indoctrinated by my significant other though was taught the knife method at college and done hundreds in the past but didn't really rate it.

To much risk especially in the summer rubber is a lot cleaner and less of a risk

 

[deleted user 837354]

To be fair, I reckon I could probably do a human's version, best have my best glasses on mind so I don't get the colour of the cords confused and snip the wrong ones.

 

[Netherfield]

To be fair, I reckon I could probably do a human's version, best have my best glasses on mind so I don't get the colour of the cords confused and snip the wrong ones.

Far too late for me.

 

[Northeastfarmer]