The band won't fit - what next?

[Bubba1358]

Tried to castrate a 5mo jersey bull today but the band doesn't fit around him. So, is there another way to tie him off? Or do I need to go find a good sharp knife?

[topside1]

Or you can crush the cords as one choice. Look up California Bander as another choice. I think that's it...Topside

[topside1]

http://www.jefferspet.com/california...iv/cp/0034971/

[farmerdan]

Can you pull one testicle at a time through the band? It's worked for me before. 5 months is getting kind of old though. Might be worth a try.

[Awnry Abe]

Cutting isn't as traumatic or difficult as I thought it would be the 1st time I had to do it in similar circumstances. Had a fresh scalpel and a spray-on antiseptic. It sure made me cringe, but the bull didn't flinch. Used our working chute and a assistant to twist/bind his tail. I kept him in the corral a few days to make sure everything healed well, and it did.

[Bubba1358]

Thanks. Say I don't have a scalpel and I need to cut today. What is a suggested cutting tool? I have kitchen knives. Serrated or not? Razor blade? Just want to be prepared and do it right. Thanx

[Bret]

I have a leatherman tool that just happens to have the sharpest blade I have ever owned. It was a present to me one Christmas. It has a nice long blade so that I can make a clean, fast, complete, one pass cut. It is now only used for this purpose. I use pliers in the other hand to keep my fingers out of the way. Then I pull the testicles and cords down through the created opening and scrape down the cords with the blade like strapping a razor until the cord breaks. This helps to reduce bleeding. I apply iodine and clean up my tools.

The healing is quite fast. The pliers help reduce bleeding too--mine.

[sammyd]

A utility knife with a fresh razor blade was all the neighbor with the feedlot next door used.
Watched him do a lot of bulls the way Bret describes.
Make your cut on the bottom and pull.

[barnbilder]

I like the rather blunt pointed small blade on a 3 bladed pocket knife. Sharpened really sharp. Something long and pointy like a fillet knife will make a nasty puncture in one of you in case somebody lets go of the tail and he kicks. That's why I like a short, less pointy blade.

[Chaty]

I have the Bull bander and I would check with friends to see if someone has 2, they are pricy. I used to use the guys at the feedstore but it got to where it was always on loan so jumped off and bought my own. Good luck and be careful!

[Gripshover]

I bought a california bander last year. I had a bull calf about 500 lbs. and it worked real good. it will band as big as they get. i was happy with it.

[kycrawler]

we cut probably 500 calves a year and use a utility knife . cut 1/2 inch off the bottom of the bag pull the nuts out one at a time wrap the cord around your finger about 4 times and pull straight down they break and dont bleed bad at all hit with iodine and turn them loose