to castrate or not?

[RockyToggRanch]

jeesh, I hope TSC carries that tool. I hope DH is in a good mood when he gets home from work today. He doesn't know it, but he's my helper.

 

[OutInTheStiks]

Quote:
yes. there's a special bander tool and bands made to use for this. It has a pliers type handel and the part that you but the band on looks kind of like fingers and the bands we have out here are green. When you squeeze the handle the fingers open up expanding the band. Pull the sac through the opening and release the handle and pull it off the sac. It should leave the band behind. Just let it stay there. In about a month or less it will all be gone. We waited about a month once and it took 2 grown men to hold the calf down while banding, vaccinating, branding while one person did the banding and vaccs and a 4th did the branding.

MUCH easier when their smaller.

Also, be sure both testicles are BELOW the band when you release it. You don't want to go through all the effort and end up only half castrating him.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Thanks, that would stink.

 

[Katy]

Have a rope handy to tie his legs when you do it. I'm the "holder" while my hubby is the "bander" and there are times at 2 or 3 days old it's all I can do to hold them. At 16 days he's gonna be a handful to hold down. Also he's probably gonna draw them (his testicles) up...they seem to do that when they're fighting being held down. If you have never done this before you might be better off to take him into the vet to have it done.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

The vet may be the wise choice

 

[silkieluver_07]

Go to www.Backyardherds.com its one of BYC's sister sites.

I bet they can help you there.

 

[bheila]

One of our hay customers gave us a week old bull calf but we didn't band him until he was 2 months old. He just stood there while I scratched his head and my husband put the band on.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I agree! Band him! Banding is pretty common and you might be able to find someone to do it for you, or talk you through it.
If not, practice with the elasticator first. Band a few things similar in size so you will know how it works. You can have hubby hold three of his fingers together and band them until you get the hang of it. Stretching it out isn't the problem...it's releasing the band that takes a little practice. You can have someone hold a bowl of feed up for him to eat from and he might not even pay any attention to what you are doing.
Just relax, make sure the calf is relaxed. Feel his junk before you start to be sure they are dropped down. Squeeze the elasticator to open the band...slip his parts in and before you release make sure you are up high enough and his junk is through there.
I have found that men can get a little nervous helping out with this. I usually get a girlfriend to help out.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Quote:
Yup. Get a woman to help! At least that's what we did! I've never banded a bull but my SIL and I banded some goats and it went much smoother than if my BROTHER would have been helping