Safely Castrating Calves By Heather Smith Thomas
The best age and method for castrating a bull and work with than young bulls as they grow up. calf may vary, depending on your situation. Some Steers are less aggressive, and much safer to be stockmen feel that a calf should be allowed to grow around. As the calf grows up, he’ll be less apt to all summer before being castrated, since calves try to get through fences and go find other cattle, if grow faster as bulls. The hormones of the young he is a steer. bull enable him to gain weight more quickly than The simplest and most humane way to castrate, a steer of the same age. But on the other hand, and with less risk of infection or extensive bleedsteers may produce better quality beef, if you ining, is to put a “rubber band” (elastrator ring) on tend to sell or butcher the animal for beef. the calf when he is a day or so old. This can be Some people also have a preference regarding done any time during the first weeks of life. These whether a knife or a “rubber band” is the best way strong rubber rings can be purchased cheaply at a to castrate. Whichever method is used, the animal farm supply store or veterinary clinic. The ring is must be adequately restrained for castration. about the size and shape of Cheerios cereal. The It is true that young bulls grow a little faster than tool to apply the rubber ring has four small prongs steers, due to hormonal influences on growth. It upon which you place the ring. The tool spreads is also true that the meat from steers is sometimes and stretches the ring when you squeeze the hanbetter quality. Steer meat is also less apt to be dark dles, so it can be placed over the testicles and situcolored and tough due to stress and excitement at ated above them. the time of butchering— This can be readily since steers tend to be accomplished with a more docile and calm than small calf simply by bulls. placing him on the Any bull calf that is not ground on his side, havdestined to become a herd ing someone hold his sire should be castrated. head and front legs so Longhorn breeders who he can’t get up. Kneelare trying to produce aniing behind him so he mals with spectacular can’t kick you with his horns prefer to castrate any hind legs, hold the scrobull calf they don’t intend tum with one hand and to keep for breeding, since place the ring over them, the steers grow the longest using the stretching tool. horns. Always make sure both Most stockmen castrate testicles are in the scrobull calves early in life. The tum before situating the The simplest and most humane way procedure is not only ring. Pull them down as to castrate with less risk of infection much easier on calves far as possible so they or extensive blood loss is with a banwhen they are small, but are completely below der. Photo of Callicrate Bander courtesy of Nosteers are easier to handle the ring when it is reBull Enterprises.
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