The best age for castration of goat kids and rules for doing it at home

Castration of goat kids is required to suppress sexual functions. Using this procedure, it is possible to cope with aggressiveness and make animal meat of higher quality. Today, several methods of castration are known, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages. For the procedure to be successful, it is important to strictly follow the recommendations for its implementation.

Why is surgery needed?

If the procedure aimed at removing the testes is performed in a timely manner, it is possible to achieve a number of positive effects:

1. Cope with animal aggression by making them calmer. This helps to avoid conflicts between males.
2. Accelerate weight gain. Thanks to this, it is possible to stimulate the growth of meat mass.
3. Reduce animal mobility. This makes the meat more tender.
4. Get the opportunity to keep males in the same pen with goats. In this case, there is no chance of insemination.
5. Eliminate the specific smell of goat meat. This helps improve its consumer qualities.

Castration is often performed on animals that have tumors or injuries to the genitals. The procedure must be carried out by a veterinarian who has the appropriate skills. When performed correctly, the manipulation does not pose a danger to the kids. If technology is violated, there is a risk of negative consequences.

At what age do they spend it?

Castration of young animals is permissible at any age. However, veterinarians advise carrying out the procedure at 1-3 months. At the same time, sometimes it is also performed on adults - at 3-7 years old.

How to prepare an animal for the procedure?

Castration is best carried out in cool weather - in spring or autumn. At this time, the wound heals as quickly as possible. In addition, there are no insects that can spread infections.

When preparing for surgery, it is important to trim the hair in the genital area. 1-2 days before castration, you should do the following:

• separate the kids that need to be castrated;
• study the development of the genitals in males - it is important to identify the presence of a hernia or prolapse of the omentum into the scrotum;
• systematically measure body temperature;
• reduce the amount of food by 50-60%, eliminate concentrated food and foods that can ferment;
• If an inguinal hernia is detected, stop feeding completely 1 day before the intervention.

It is recommended to wash the animals a couple of hours before performing the manipulation. When the pets are dry, the hair in the genital area should be shaved.

Bloodless methods of castration

There are a number of bloodless methods of castration. Each of them has certain advantages and disadvantages.

Clamping the spermatic cord with forceps

This method involves compressing the vessels and nerves of the testis. Special forceps are used to carry out the procedure. Castration of small goats is carried out using devices from Telyatnikov, Khanin, and Glushko. The Burdizio instrument is also used. To carry out the operation, it is recommended to do the following:

• perform processing;
• use a pain reliever;
• take the spermatic cord in your hand and bring it to the skin;
• pinch with forceps - it is worth retreating a couple of centimeters from the abdominal wall;
• when the instrument is compressed, a crunch should appear;
• hold for half a minute;
• step back 1 centimeter and apply the forceps again;
• perform manipulation for the testis from the second side.

During the intervention, the scrotum swells slightly. This symptom goes away after 5-7 days. Resorption of the gonads occurs after 5-7 months.

Application of rubber rings

This method is considered the simplest. It is with the help of rubber rings that goat kids are most often castrated. The use of an elastic band provokes poor circulation in the genitals. As a result, the scrotum dies. As a result, it falls off.This method is called elastration. During the procedure, the elastic band is stretched with special forceps and placed on the testes.

First, you should feel the goat’s scrotum. Otherwise, there is a risk of squeezing only one testicle.

Painful sensations are present only for half an hour. Then the nerve vessels die and the genitals stop working. If the procedure is carried out correctly, the scrotum becomes cold after 30 minutes. This is due to lack of blood circulation. The testicles die within 3 weeks.

Destruction of the testicular parenchyma

This is a rather complex method that often provokes complications. That’s why it’s almost never used at home. This procedure is of great scientific interest. In this case, special forceps will be required to castrate goats. In this case, the destruction of the testicular parenchyma often causes negative consequences. These include ruptures and hematomas. In addition, it does not always help to completely destroy the testicle, which leads to a gradual restoration of sexual functions.

Blood methods

Such methods of castration involve surgical intervention in the pet’s genitals.

With cutting off the bottom of the scrotum

To castrate an animal using this method, it is recommended to do the following:

• pull back and straighten the bottom of the scrotum;
• treat with iodine;
• cut off the top - this is done with scissors or a scalpel;
• remove the testes through the incision;
• apply a clamp and stitch the spermatic cord;
• below, cut off the testicles;
• treat the damaged area with iodine tincture;
• place crushed streptocide into the wound or treat the damaged area with an antiseptic.

Complete removal of the scrotum

This method is often used for an adult goat.To carry out the procedure, the testes need to be pushed to the bottom of the scrotum and an incision made above the testicles. It is recommended to separate the skin of the scrotum and move it downward.

You need to apply forceps or make a piercing ligature on the exposed spermatic cords. There is little use of thread for ligating the cords - it often slips off. The testes need to be cut off along with the scrotum. The damaged area should be treated with iodine tincture and sprinkled with antiseptics. The edges of the wound must be brought together using sutures.

Method with an incision along the median seam

When making a cut, it is recommended to retreat 1 centimeter from the middle seam. All layers should be opened in one motion. Pull out the testis through the resulting incision and place a ligature on the cord. This should leave long ends. Then you need to cut off the testicle. If there is no bleeding, it is recommended to cut off the excess part of the thread.

Possible complications

If the procedure is performed incorrectly, there is a risk of complications. In this case, bloody discharge with clots appears from the damaged area. With severe bleeding, the risk of death of the animal is high. If suspicious symptoms appear, you should contact a veterinarian who will provide timely assistance. Castration of a goat can be carried out using different methods. In any case, after completing the procedure, you need to provide your pet with complete and high-quality care.