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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 205
If your lambs were born on pasture, they are quite easily caught when they are 2 or 3 days old. We stress 2 – 3 days old, because at the "old" age of 4 days, they have learned to run really fast!
Docking is also less stressful to a lamb when it is only 2 or 3 days old and the tail is still small.
Most breeds of sheep are born with long tails, and these can accumulate large amounts of manure tangled up in the wool – this attracts flies and then maggots, and can interfere later on with breeding, shearing, and lambing.
There are several ways to remove a lamb's tail but always remember,
cleanliness should be upheld at all times, no matter what procedure you decide to use to avoid the risk of infection.
:
1. Cutting with a bluntish knife – it the knife is sharp it causes more bleeding
2. A knife and hammer over a wooden block.
3. A hot electric chisel or clamp – this method cauterizes the wound to reduce bleeding.
4. A Burdizzo emasculator and knife – this method crushes the ends of the blood vessels.
5. An Elastrator, which applies a small strong rubber ring and cuts off the circulation of the blood, with the result that the tail drops of in a couple of weeks.
The Elastrator is the method favored by many experienced shepherds. It has several advantages such as minimizing shock, elimination of bleeding problems, cost effective and easy to use. As with each and every method, your lambs should have had a tetanus vaccination before docking to reduce the risk of tetanus. The Elastrator rubber rings should be stored in a small, wide-mouth jar of alcohol, disinfectant, or mild bleach solution to keep them sterile and also to disinfect your fingers when you reach into it. The Elastrator pliers should be disinfected. When you use the Elastrator, the tail most often falls off in 1 to 3 weeks, however, it can be cut off 3 days after on the body side close to the band. Dunk the stump in 7% iodine to prevent infection. If you live in an area where tetanus is a known factor in the soil, give the lamb a shot of tetanus antisera at docking.
The Burdizzo emasculator is quick but expensive, perhaps a neighbor will be willing to loan you theirs. When the procedure is finished with stitching with a mattress suture in the skin, it is almost bloodless and the wound heals around the same time as the tail would have dropped of if you used the Elastrator. However, the Burdizzo is expensive, requires suture procedure and an experienced operator. If you use this method don't forget to disinfect the emasculator and/or the knife.
Docking is also less stressful to a lamb when it is only 2 or 3 days old and the tail is still small.
Most breeds of sheep are born with long tails, and these can accumulate large amounts of manure tangled up in the wool – this attracts flies and then maggots, and can interfere later on with breeding, shearing, and lambing.
There are several ways to remove a lamb's tail but always remember,
cleanliness should be upheld at all times, no matter what procedure you decide to use to avoid the risk of infection.
:
1. Cutting with a bluntish knife – it the knife is sharp it causes more bleeding
2. A knife and hammer over a wooden block.
3. A hot electric chisel or clamp – this method cauterizes the wound to reduce bleeding.
4. A Burdizzo emasculator and knife – this method crushes the ends of the blood vessels.
5. An Elastrator, which applies a small strong rubber ring and cuts off the circulation of the blood, with the result that the tail drops of in a couple of weeks.
The Elastrator is the method favored by many experienced shepherds. It has several advantages such as minimizing shock, elimination of bleeding problems, cost effective and easy to use. As with each and every method, your lambs should have had a tetanus vaccination before docking to reduce the risk of tetanus. The Elastrator rubber rings should be stored in a small, wide-mouth jar of alcohol, disinfectant, or mild bleach solution to keep them sterile and also to disinfect your fingers when you reach into it. The Elastrator pliers should be disinfected. When you use the Elastrator, the tail most often falls off in 1 to 3 weeks, however, it can be cut off 3 days after on the body side close to the band. Dunk the stump in 7% iodine to prevent infection. If you live in an area where tetanus is a known factor in the soil, give the lamb a shot of tetanus antisera at docking.
The Burdizzo emasculator is quick but expensive, perhaps a neighbor will be willing to loan you theirs. When the procedure is finished with stitching with a mattress suture in the skin, it is almost bloodless and the wound heals around the same time as the tail would have dropped of if you used the Elastrator. However, the Burdizzo is expensive, requires suture procedure and an experienced operator. If you use this method don't forget to disinfect the emasculator and/or the knife.