Calling All Sheep Farmers. Castration/docking Method Do You Use?

[Dreamsandlove]

So... just out of curiosity, what method do you use for sheep castration?

Elastication or Surgical? And what are your reasons for the method you use. Also...for your methods used do you give pain relief while doing so?

[tamborine]

I darent explain on web. Best you use a vet or offer a throw away email, where I can explain.

[Dreamsandlove]

Too sensitive to share Tam?

[tamborine]

The info could be misused if put ont web.

[tamborine]

Surgical

[tamborine]

Bio freeze makes it painless. It must be done at soonest after birth.

[Dreamsandlove]

Ooh I've never heard of bio freeze. I'll go check that out anyways.

[Old_Geezer]

Someone upset you D&L ?

[Dreamsandlove]

Not at all oldgeezer. Does my post make me sound upset? If so I'll try wording better. Not upset just curious into the farming industry tbh. Never seen all of this side of life so it's particularly interesting.

[melv16]

The Welsh bite them off:-)

[Dreamsandlove]

Melv16 hahahahaha that's funny. Just burst out laughing!

[alavahalf]

Personally I use the 'Two house bricks method' ... it usually clears the wax from their ears at the same time, therefore killing two birds with one stone !

You will have to ask the Ed if we can have a farming section. 8-)

[woofgang]

Tambo you have only to google and all the information is out there already.

[just2retro]

Everyone I have ever known breeding sheep put a rubber ring around the male lambs Testicles around three days after they are born. They eventually drop off. What a strange question.

http://www.fearing.co.uk/filedepository/productimages/sheep/sheep-breeding--rearing/thumbnails/Castration-Ring-Pliers_800_800_120106050156.jpg

[Dreamsandlove]

Just2retro - ive read it's most common. Cheapest, quickest, less invasive, minimal training required etc.
Just wondered what reasons farmers picked for their methods.

Also...j2r you say people you know use this...do you know if they are given any pain relief for this?

[RATTER15]

When I castrated or tail docked, I used the the rubber rings, I hated doing it but I think the pain subsided fairly quickly and were running around quite happily in a very short time.

[RATTER15]

I have never known any pain relief given for the rubber ring method!

[Dreamsandlove]

Rat - thank you. You sure pain subsides shortly. Can't bear to see them in pain. Also is it normal for docking and castration to be done together at the same time?

[Dreamsandlove]

Do apologise for my ignorance in farming. New to this.

[RATTER15]

I dont know what other farmers done but I was taught to do both at the same time, and yes the pain subsided and would be happily feeding in a very short time.

You do need to be careful to get the rubber ring behind the testicles, I have seen them misplaced and caught a testicle, that is very painful indeed and they are not easily or quickly removed again. I used to keep a scalpel nearby just in case it happened, thankfully it never did. I hasten to add that the scalpel was to cut off the ring!

[just2retro]

Docking tails is done to all lambs (except some breeds like Swaledale that keep their tails). No painkillers are given.