Castrating gone wrong :(

Ronney · #21 05/03/09, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

I have banded hundreds of calves without a problem. I have had a few problems with ear tags. My calves are born year around, often in fly season. Anything that creates an open would is a suspect for infection. I can understand the vet's position because almost no one would pay vet fees for the application of a band. The worst problem that I have ever seen was on a stud horse and was performed by a vet. I will continue with the bands and I suggest the poster to do the same.

Ditto.

Erin, cutting may still be very common in the States, it isn't over here and hasn't been for a good 30 years or more. Calves are rung between a few days old and 8 weeks of age, depending on the farming circumstances, and anything over the age of 6 months can't be castrated at all without veterinary supervision. Vet fees are a good incentive to make people do the job when it is easier on both man and animal.

Cheers,
Ronnie

Wanda · #22 05/03/09, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronney

Ditto.

Erin, cutting may still be very common in the States, it isn't over here and hasn't been for a good 30 years or more. Calves are rung between a few days old and 8 weeks of age, depending on the farming circumstances, and anything over the age of 6 months can't be castrated at all without veterinary supervision. Vet fees are a good incentive to make people do the job when it is easier on both man and animal.

Cheers,
Ronnie

Is this because of ''humane'' laws like parts of europe has? Economics is the force in charge here for large producers and it is still the ''knife'' when it comes to bulls or boars

Does castration with a blade in your country require a painkiller?

ErinP · #23 05/03/09, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wr

ErinP, up here, the vet is not the guy that works the knife at a branding and the knife man generally works for supper and beer.

The same is true here.
(Unless the vet is a buddy who just happens to be on the knife at branding, though oddly, that's not how it usually works out. lol)

That's why my question about what the vet has to do with cutting...

Karin L · #24 05/03/09, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

Does anyone pay vet fees to cut calves??

Here we do. Particularly with older yearlings, as the fear of infection is greater so we just decide to let the vet do it instead. Keep them penned up for a few weeks before they get to go out with the rest of the herd.

If we had calves calves, like the real young ones less than weaning age, then we'd be doing it ourselves.

kclementsdvm · #25 05/16/09, 10:57 AM

I get paid by a lot of people to castrate their calves - just depends on what they're comfortable with. I also get paid to fix mistakes.

But really, the choice of cutting or banding is mainly based on personal preference/comfort, then size of the animal. The bigger the animal, the more likely to bleed a lot when cut, so I prefer to band those, to decrease the risk of excessive blood loss. But I'm comfortable with either technique. The only one I won't do is clamping - I leave that to my clients who are good at it.