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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 206
The best length of the stump of the tail is 1.1/2 inches (3.8 cm) from the body. As you lift the tail, you will notice two flaps of skin that attach from the underside of the tail to the area on each side of the rectum. The band or cut should be placed just at, or slightly past where the skin attaches to the tail – on the tail, not the skin. This leaves enough tail to serve as a cover and prevents damage to the muscle structure that would weaken the area and add to the risk for prolapse later on.
Castration:
If you are considering castrating a lamb ram you do not intend to use for breeding purposes it should be done early rather than late. Castrated lambs grow faster than those that are not and also ewe lambs. Once the testicles have descended into the scrotum, that is the ideal time to castrate, this is usually around 10 days after birth. There are two efficient ways in which you can do this, and the equipment you will require are the same as those used in docking.
You may want to take into consideration that if you have early lambs and plan on selling the rams for meat at 5 months – that is before the breeding season – you can forego castration, the drawback is, that in the west, the slaughterhouse will penalize you for not castrating. Check to see if this is in effect in your part of the world. However, if you intend to keep the ram for longer than 6 months before slaughter, castration is recommended.
An emasculator can be used and there is no wound to attract flies, and this is an important factor to pay attention to in the fly season. This bloodless procedure crushes the spermatic cord and arteries, and pain is at a minimum, and little or no danger of infection
The Elastrator is a special pair of pliers that stretch the rubber ring as you pull the scrotum through. When the pliers are removed, the ring tightens around the end of the scrotum where it is attached to the body. The Elastrator cuts off the blood supply and the testicles waste away in about 20 – 30 days. There is no internal hemorrhage or shock, and very little risk of infection. If, however, you do have a problem with infection, douse the band with iodine for about a week. If the weather is hot, spray it with a fly repellent. As might be expected, when the band is first applied, the young ram will run around like crazy for a minute or two, but after that they do not seem to be bothered by it at all.
Don't forget to disinfect your equipment.
Cryptorchid (hidden testicles) or Short Scrotum:
The Elastrator ring can also be used for the purpose of sterilization. Lamb rams that are sterilized gain weight faster, have less fat
Castration:
If you are considering castrating a lamb ram you do not intend to use for breeding purposes it should be done early rather than late. Castrated lambs grow faster than those that are not and also ewe lambs. Once the testicles have descended into the scrotum, that is the ideal time to castrate, this is usually around 10 days after birth. There are two efficient ways in which you can do this, and the equipment you will require are the same as those used in docking.
You may want to take into consideration that if you have early lambs and plan on selling the rams for meat at 5 months – that is before the breeding season – you can forego castration, the drawback is, that in the west, the slaughterhouse will penalize you for not castrating. Check to see if this is in effect in your part of the world. However, if you intend to keep the ram for longer than 6 months before slaughter, castration is recommended.
An emasculator can be used and there is no wound to attract flies, and this is an important factor to pay attention to in the fly season. This bloodless procedure crushes the spermatic cord and arteries, and pain is at a minimum, and little or no danger of infection
The Elastrator is a special pair of pliers that stretch the rubber ring as you pull the scrotum through. When the pliers are removed, the ring tightens around the end of the scrotum where it is attached to the body. The Elastrator cuts off the blood supply and the testicles waste away in about 20 – 30 days. There is no internal hemorrhage or shock, and very little risk of infection. If, however, you do have a problem with infection, douse the band with iodine for about a week. If the weather is hot, spray it with a fly repellent. As might be expected, when the band is first applied, the young ram will run around like crazy for a minute or two, but after that they do not seem to be bothered by it at all.
Don't forget to disinfect your equipment.
Cryptorchid (hidden testicles) or Short Scrotum:
The Elastrator ring can also be used for the purpose of sterilization. Lamb rams that are sterilized gain weight faster, have less fat