At what age is it better to castrate piglets? Features of castration technique. Time frame for castration

Puberty of pigs and pigs is accompanied by an increase in the level of sex hormones in their bodies (androgens and estrogens). They are the ones responsible for the appearance of an unpleasant, pungent odor that cannot be gotten rid of, as well as loss of quality and weight of meat.

Castration of piglets is a very difficult and delicate matter. It is necessary to have maximum knowledge about this procedure in order to avoid possible complications as a result of incorrect actions. In our article you will learn what proper castration of piglets should be like with your own hands, as well as whether it can be done at home, and at what age boars are ready for this procedure.

Experienced breeders insist on castration or castration of piglets at one and a half to two months of age. This choice is explained by the fact that it is at this age that animals experience the least amount of pain compared to suckling babies or adults. The minimum age for surgery is 10 days, and the optimal age is two weeks. Small piglets have significantly less blood loss than boars. Another advantage of castrating pigs at a young age is that the piglet does not need to be held by several assistants, like a mature boar.

The video shows well how castration of piglets is done in compliance with all the rules. The most popular procedure among many pig farmers remains closed castration of pigs, since this technology allows to protect animals from large blood loss.

What is needed before surgery:

For babies - a special design on which they are secured in a supine position with all legs fixed forward;
For boars - fixation with ropes and the help of several strong men;
Medicinal preparation for piglets and adult pigs. The appropriate pain relief medication and its dosage should be checked with your veterinarian.

It is forbidden to perform castration without anesthesia, because an animal in pain will resist and squeal. An adult boar can easily escape from pain and cause serious injuries to those around him, but I feel sorry for the little piglets. In the next video you can watch how a boar is castrated at home.

It is necessary to maintain an interval of two weeks between castration, deworming and vaccination; it is strictly prohibited to carry out these procedures at the same time!

Castration of Vietnamese piglets is especially necessary because their meat may lose its delicious bacon qualities. The operation can also prevent unwanted pregnancies of piglets unsuitable for breeding.

Elite piglets remain for breeding and therefore are not subject to castration.

How to castrate regular and Vietnamese piglets

To ensure that the piglet castration operation takes place as quickly but correctly as possible, prepare the equipment and tools:

A machine for castrating piglets, which can be dispensed with only if the animal has a calm character, and the procedure will be performed by a veterinarian with experience in performing such operations;

Surgical scissors for clamping blood vessels;
Scalpel;
Medical needle;
Silk threads or catgut;
Antiseptic for incision treatment.

Before surgery on an adult animal, prepare disinfected special veterinary forceps for docking and castration.

Before the procedure, thoroughly disinfect the machine with tools to prevent blood poisoning and death of the animal, as well as your hands. It is advisable to operate with medical gloves to prevent wound infection. The animal must be thoroughly washed. Instruments must be sterilized again for each piglet or boar. The ideal time of year for castration is warm spring, summer and warm autumn. The animals are not fed the night before surgery.

Castration of a piglet and an adult animal can be done in different ways:

Bloody. The integrity of organs, membranes or skin is damaged. Technologies differ in the degree of intervention in the animal’s body - partial, open and closed.
Bloodless. Complete absence of any penetration into the body. There are mechanical, chemical and x-ray castration technologies. All of them are very complex and require significant financial resources, therefore, in small farmsteads and small farms their use is unprofitable.

Features of different methods of castration:

For ordinary and pot-bellied piglets up to 14 days old, castration is done using the “breakage of the spermatic cord” method. The scrotum is cut along the middle seam, the testis is removed and the transitional ligament is cut off. After retracting both testicles in turn, the spermatic cord is intercepted with the fingers closer to the groin and cut off. After the operation, the wound is treated with iodine tincture, and the incision is stitched to avoid bleeding. If you decide not to stitch, be sure to treat the edges of the wound with an antibiotic-based ointment.

Piglets from two weeks of age undergo surgery using a ligature. The scrotum is dissected along the central suture, the spermatic cord is taken out and placed between two fingers (index and middle). Now you need to carefully tie the cord with a ligature (silk thread or catgut of your choice) and cut 1 cm above the ligature point towards the testes. The resulting stump should be lubricated with an antibiotic ointment, which can be replaced with a 5% iodine solution, and Vaseline oil is suitable for lubricating the edges of the wound.

For piglets with inguinal hernias, adult animals and boars closed technology castration. During the operation, the vaginal membrane is not opened, but is separated from the surrounding tissues with a gauze swab. Near the inguinal ring, the spermatic cord with a single vaginal membrane is tied with silk thread or catgut, and cut off below the ligation site. The second testis is removed in the same way. Here you can watch a video tutorial on closed castration of pigs.

In the European Union, in 2013, chemical bloodless castration began to be used, during which anesthesia and a new generation of medications are used. This technique makes it possible to guarantee the avoidance of complications following conventional castration methods in the form of an inflammatory process and infection in the wound. European experts claim that chemical castration avoids unnecessary suffering of animals and the appearance of an unpleasant odor in meat.

Caring for animals after surgery

Once you are sure that your animals are absolutely healthy and their condition and temperature are normal, you can perform surgery. Then, for 3-5 days, observation of the operated piglets and adult boars is mandatory. Particular attention must be paid to general state and wound healing.

Castrated animals must be temporarily separated from the herd and placed in disinfected cages with clean, dry straw bedding. It is forbidden to use material made from small particles or sawdust as flooring, otherwise they can clog into open wounds and cause various complications. After castration, piglets should not have a depressed state or discharge from the operated area.

Any negative changes in the surgical field, redness, severe swelling requires immediate contact with a veterinarian and the fastest possible treatment. The sooner complications are eliminated, the greater the animal’s chances of recovery.

Operated pigs and piglets can be released outside no earlier than the wounds have completely healed, which usually heal within six days.

What should a machine for castrating piglets be like and how to make it yourself

You can buy a machine for castrating piglets ready-made, made of metal with special fixation of the hind legs. If necessary, when it is not possible to purchase a branded machine, you can make it yourself from wood. In the photo you can see what it looks like. This is usually a sturdy wooden table with a semi-circular cutout on one side and a strap to secure the legs of a piglet or small pig. This machine allows the farmer to do without an assistant.

Castration of piglets used to increase the profitability of pig farming and produce meat with high taste. Removal of reproductive organs has a positive effect on the behavior of sexually mature individuals and simplifies their group keeping.

The basis for castration of pigs is economic and medical indications. In uncastrated piglets, after the onset of puberty, metabolic processes and behavior change. During hunting, pigs and wild boars become restless, aggressive, eat food worse and, as a result, lose weight. If there is a large herd, keeping boars and pigs together is associated with certain difficulties: there is a possibility of unwanted offspring, injury to males when attacking each other, damage to equipment and pens.

Castration of piglets makes it possible to increase weight gain with the same volumes of feed, which increases the profitability of agricultural enterprises and farms. Removing the gonads allows you to get rid of the specific unpleasant odor that boar meat has. With early castration of piglets, the meat obtained after slaughter is distinguished by tenderness and a higher percentage of fat. Hogs (castrated boars) are distinguished by their calm disposition, endurance and greater resistance to certain diseases. It is recommended to subject all piglets that will not be used as breeding stock to routine castration.

Pigs are castrated much less frequently due to the increased complexity of the procedure. Castration of pigs makes it possible to obtain thicker subcutaneous fat and accelerate weight gain. However, with the bacon type of fattening, removal of the reproductive organs is not economically justified.

Surgery may be performed for medical reasons. Castration is recommended in cases where treatment of piglets, boars and pigs is possible only by removing the testes or ovaries.

Contraindications

Castration of pigs is not carried out simultaneously with any preventive procedures (vaccination, deworming, etc.). Piglets or large boars can be operated on two weeks before or two weeks after.

Before castration, all boars are carefully examined: their general condition is assessed, their temperature is measured, and their external genitalia are checked for damage and inguinal hernias. If abnormalities are detected, surgery is postponed until the condition improves.

Mass castration of piglets is not recommended if there are already installed infectious diseases or suspected infection. The procedure is not performed on animals that are weak or exhausted after illness. If the basis for castration of a boar is an egg injury, a preliminary examination of the scrotal tissue is necessary: the operation is strictly contraindicated in the presence of purulent foci and tissue necrosis at the site of injury. Castration of piglets and wild boars is possible only after all possible contraindications have been eliminated.

As pigs age, the likelihood of surgical and postoperative complications increases, so castration of an adult, and especially an old, boar should be carried out with extreme caution and compliance with the technique of the procedure.

Age

Unlike other animals that are bred in agriculture To obtain meat, early removal of the testes is recommended for piglets. The optimal age is from 10 days to 1.5 months. Most veterinarians agree that the operation should be carried out 5-7 days before weaning piglets from the pig: in the period from 35 to 45 days of life.

The advantages of early castration include the following:

One-month-old piglets experience minimal blood loss and wounds heal much faster.
At this age, anesthetics are not used, so the price of the procedure is slightly lower.
You can restrain small boars yourself, while restraining a huge adult boar will require several people.
The mother's milk that piglets continue to receive strengthens their immune system and promotes rapid recovery.

It is recommended to operate on piglets intended for fattening no later than 6 months. When determining the age of castration of wild boars, it is worth taking into account the fact that emasculated males increase the calorie content of meat and they more actively build up fat rather than muscle mass. In this regard, some owners, when keeping piglets individually, carry out the operation several months before the planned slaughter. The boar meat obtained in this case is leaner.

Separately, it is worth dwelling on the removal of testes from breeding boars. Males used for breeding are castrated after culling at the age of 4-6 years. Before releasing a large, mature boar for slaughter, it must be fattened for some time. To determine how many months later a hog can be slaughtered, you need to know its age. It is believed that the number of months in fattening should correspond to the number of years of the male. Some farmers are of the opinion that this is not enough for boars actively involved in insemination, and advise adding another 1-2 months to the period. If the hog is slaughtered earlier, the meat will have an unpleasant taste and smell.

Methods

The choice of castration method depends on the age at which the intervention will be carried out. For piglets and young boars, testes are removed using an open method. Castration of wild boars after 4-5 years, as well as males of any age with an inguinal hernia, is carried out using a closed method. Methods such as chemical and immunological castration are used much less frequently.

Before surgery, the animal is immobilized. For mass castration of piglets, you can use a special machine. If such a device is not available, the piglet is placed on its back on its knees, or lowered upside down, pinching its neck between its legs. There are several ways to restrain the boar during surgery. Traditionally, ropes are used for this purpose. Before tying the animal, it is laid on its side, and then the hind legs are pulled up to the front. It is convenient to secure a boar in a barrel: the animal is driven into a barrel without a bottom and turned over into a horizontal position with its hind legs up. There should be reliable fixation even if the decision was made to euthanize the male.

Castration of piglets up to 2 months is carried out without the use of painkillers. When removing testes from young boars, local anesthesia can be used. During castration of boars with complications or older than 5-6 years, general anesthesia is required. The sleeping pill is calculated depending on the weight of the male and the duration of the intervention.

To carry out the procedure, you will need a set of tools: a scalpel, scissors, clamps or forceps, means for treating the surgical field and wound (iodine, powder).

Open way

Before choosing an open method of castration of a boar, you must carefully feel the scrotum and make sure that there is no omentum or intestinal loop that has prolapsed through the inguinal ring. During open castration of boars, all the membranes are cut, right down to the testes. Incisions are made in parallel on both sides of the scrotal suture, and the testicles are removed. Before cutting or tearing off the spermatic cords, special instruments are applied to them, which are held on the spermatic ducts to prevent bleeding (how long to hold the clamps depends on the type of instrument). If the pig is older than 2 months, the vas deferens is tied with thread. The stump of the vas deferens and the wound are treated with antiseptics.

In a closed way

This method is used for castration of boars and piglets with intravaginal hernias. The technique involves dissecting the scrotum without opening the vaginal membranes. The spermatic cord is captured together with the vaginal membrane, twisted and stitched with a ligature. An incision is made below the seam, and the stump is treated with an antiseptic. During the operation, it is necessary to check for any prolapsed intestine in the piglet and, if necessary, push it back into the abdominal cavity.

With any surgical castration, post-intervention care is important: proper nutrition, regular inspection of the piglet and treatment of the wound.

Immunologically

The method appeared relatively recently, but has already received approval from both representatives of pig farms and animal rights activists. Immunological castration of boars involves stimulating the immune system and producing antibodies that suppress sex hormones.

As a result, androsterone and skatole, substances that give meat an unpleasant odor and taste, do not accumulate in the body of boars. Thanks to the suppression of hormones, vaccinated piglets experience the same intense growth in body weight as castrates, but their meat remains lean and the fat thickness is less than that of hogs. The disadvantage of immunological castration of boars and piglets is the high cost of the vaccine.

Chemical

Castration of pigs using medications is aimed at suppressing the function of the testes and ovaries, followed by their atrophy. The method is used quite rarely due to its economic infeasibility.

Complexity of the operation

Castration of pigs is not considered complex operations. If sanitary standards and procedures are observed, piglets and young boars recover fairly quickly.

The likelihood of complications is present in pigs in connection with abdominal surgery. The complexity of the intervention also increases in mature males due to age-related changes in blood vessels and an increased risk of bleeding.

How long does the intervention last?

Open castration of one-month-old piglets without the administration of painkillers takes up to 10 minutes. The duration of castration of boars and pigs with preliminary fixation and administration of anesthetics lasts from 25 to 40 minutes.

In the presence of hernias and concomitant diseases, it is difficult to determine how long the operation will take. In this case, everything is decided by the condition of the animal.

Price

How much pig castration costs depends on the age of the pigs and the chosen method of carrying out the procedure. The least expensive option is to remove the testes from small piglets. The need for anesthesia in adult boars increases the cost of the operation.

Chemical castration and cessation of reproductive function in piglets by immunological methods are expensive procedures due to the high cost of drugs.

Preoperative period

When castrating pigs, complex preparation for the intervention is not required. The piglets are no longer given food within 12 hours, and on the day of the procedure they should not be given water.

Overly active and aggressive boars may be given premedication immediately before the procedure. During preparation for surgery, the pens in which the hogs will be kept should be cleaned. It is not recommended to use as bedding wood shavings and other similar materials that may enter the wound.

Postoperative period

Within 5-7 days after castration, piglets and adult hogs need regular monitoring. It is necessary to examine the scrotum and assess the general condition of the animal. If there is swelling and redness near the wound, pus is released, a hernia has prolapsed, or other changes are observed, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible. Proper care after surgery helps hogs recover quickly.

Complications

In the first hours after the intervention, hogs remain at risk of bleeding and prolapse. internal organs into the inguinal rings. Late complications include the following possible complications: entry of infectious pathogens into the wound with subsequent development of inflammation, edema, abscesses, tissue necrosis, peritonitis, sepsis.

With your own hands

Castration of pigs is performed at an early age, when the risk of bleeding and other complications is minimal. With sufficient preliminary preparation, availability of the necessary tools and compliance sanitary requirements Such operations can be performed by yourself and at home.

Training must take place under the guidance of a specialist. You should not be guided by articles, photos and video materials from the Internet or books on veterinary medicine. The doctor must explain the features of the procedure and care for piglets, and talk about actions in the event of possible complications. It is recommended to carry out the first DIY operations under the supervision of a specialist.

Castration of a boar of mature age or with a hernia, as well as removal of appendages in pigs, are more complex manipulations, so only a veterinarian can perform such an operation.

Castration of boars is a mandatory procedure when fattening pigs for further slaughter for meat. Regardless of the method of cessation of sexual function, it is necessary to involve qualified specialists with experience in performing such operations. The success of the intervention largely depends on compliance with all doctor’s recommendations in the preoperative and postoperative period.

Any farmer who breeds pigs understands that they cannot do without the castration procedure. In most cases, people turn to a veterinarian for help. professional methods The pig was castrated. However, some farmers prefer to do this themselves at home.

There are many methods: open and closed, bloody and bloodless. In order to carry out the operation yourself, you need to know at least one method out of several available. But it is worth noting that experts are still debating the timing of piglet castration. It is necessary to understand in more detail how to castrate piglets with your own hands, without causing great risk and harm to the animal.

The very name of castration refers to a surgical intervention that involves the forced suspension of the activity of the gonads in an animal. In addition to the surgical method of castration, there are also:

Hormone
Chemical
Radioactive

If we talk about carrying out the procedure at home, then Only surgical method is suitable. This procedure should only be carried out after the boar reaches a certain age. After castration, a pig experiences significant changes in metabolism and hormonal imbalance in the body. All this can provoke external deviations in the development of the boar. But why is a boar castrated? And is it possible to bypass this procedure in other ways?

Artificial insemination of pigs

Goals

Piglets, like all living things in this world, grow and mature. As a result, their levels of estrogens and androgens increase. This causes various changes in the body of piglets, many of which are undesirable during fattening, as they cause economic loss. Such changes include:

It is for these reasons that pigs have to undergo castration.

Time frame for castration

Many experts say that it is best to castrate a piglet at an early age, since during this period it will be easier for the animal to endure the procedure. It is best to castrate an animal between 10 and 45 days after birth.

In order to castrate a piglet, you can seek help from a veterinarian. However, one should not exclude the possibility that this procedure can be carried out at home independently. If for some reason castration was not performed on the pig within the specified time frame, then it can be performed at any other time. It is also worth considering that it is best to do this before reaching six months of age, otherwise the animal will retain sexual instincts even after the procedure.

What does a wild boar eat in the forest and at home?

Carrying out castration

Preparation

It doesn’t matter what time of year to castrate a piglet. It is best to do the procedure in the morning so that you can monitor the animal’s condition all day. Castration should not be carried out if there is some other foreign intervention in the body, for example, vaccination. The gap between vaccination and castration should be half a month.

Tools

Before castrating a boar, you need to prepare some tools for the procedure:

Several belly scalpels
Tweezers
Straight scissors
Catgut
Silk thread

For convenience, you can also use a special machine that allows you to immobilize the piglet during the procedure.

Preparing the pig

Before the operation begins, the animal should be thoroughly examined, especially in the groin area. It is necessary to examine the skin for damage, omentums and other neoplasms.

Castration procedure

There are several ways to castrate a piglet that you can use yourself at home. The simplest of them (open) is discussed below:

Castration or emasculation is the artificial interruption of the function of the sex glands. It can be carried out using various methods and for a variety of therapeutic or economic indications. Most often, castration is performed by removing the gonads. In males, such methods are also used, as a result of which the functioning of the sex glands is partially or completely disrupted. This is achieved by using chemicals, hormonal drugs or radioactive radiation. Immunological sterilization is currently being attempted.

Of greatest importance is surgical sterilization, which is the most important business operation.

This procedure causes dramatic changes in the metabolism of the animal’s body and, as a result, peculiar morphological deviations in its development. Let's look at what medicinal and economic goals are achieved with its help.

Purposes of castration

As pigs and pigs grow and mature, the production of sex hormones (estrogens and androgens) increases. In pigs, like any other animal, these hormones cause various changes associated with puberty, which are undesirable when raising pigs.

These include:

The occurrence of sexual heat, which repeats every month. During the hunt, animals of both sexes are in an excited state, restless, eat food poorly, which leads to weight loss and deterioration in the quality of meat.
Accidental insemination by unsuitable males.
Uncastrated wild boars (boars) become aggressive and quite dangerous as they grow older. Such animals can attack each other, cause very serious injuries, break equipment, cages, etc. Such animals become dangerous to people.
Non-castrates develop a persistent, unpleasant, pungent odor that permeates the meat, making it practically inedible. pure form or requires special processing, so all individuals going for fattening must be single.

Therapeutic indications for surgery are various diseases, for which castration is the only way to get rid of (for example, inflammation of the testes or ovaries, hernias, neoplasms and other pathologies, etc.).

The economic indication for surgery is:

obtaining higher quality meat (more tender, better quality) chemical composition, odorless and specific taste, etc.);
less feed consumption during fattening while achieving greater weight gain;
fattening of used queens and breeding boars;
facilitating group keeping of animals;
to improve the working qualities of animals and their endurance.

Currently, experts recommend early castration of boars (of suckling age) - at the age of two weeks, and even better in the first days of life. In this case, the operation will be tolerated by the young animals as easily as possible, with minimal blood loss and without complications. The wounds will heal very quickly and the piglets will get stronger very quickly afterwards. Such early emasculation has a beneficial effect on the further growth and development of castrates.

Benefits of early castration

Its implementation requires minimal restraint of animals.
Piglets calm down faster when under the uterus.
No anesthesia required.
Mother's milk provides the necessary amount of protective antibodies, which strengthens the baby's immunity.
There is minimal blood loss. Wounds heal much faster.
Complications rarely occur.
Medication consumption is minimal
The growth and development of young animals becomes faster.

It is better if castration is performed by an experienced veterinarian.

Methods of castration

Currently, several methods are known for drying wild boars and pigs. All of them are divided into bloody and bloodless operations.

Bloody castrations include all types of castrations in which the integrity of the skin or any membranes or organs is violated. They are closed, open and partial.

Bloodless methods include emasculation by other methods, without introduction into the body. There are chemical, mechanical castration and using X-rays.

These three methods are the most expensive and complex, so their use is unprofitable from an economic point of view.

Let's consider the bloody methods of emasculation: closed and open methods.

Closed methods

They are prescribed mainly only to adult or very large boars. As well as animals with inguinal hernias.

The operation is planned no later than two weeks before and no earlier than this period after the completion of preventive vaccinations against infectious diseases, as well as no less than two months before slaughter.

Skinning old boars.

The boar is securely fixed on its back or in another way. At the same time, a loop of strong rope is thrown over the upper jaw, which is then pulled through the ring. Fixed in the floor, or through a crossbar near the floor between two posts. Then the skin of the scrotum is washed with soapy water, dried and iodine tincture is applied. Treatment with iodine has two purposes: disinfection and tanning of the skin to make it easier to cut. Then local anesthesia is carried out with a half-percent solution of novocaine, after which the skin of the scrotum is collected into a fold (transverse) and a careful dissection is made. So as not to damage the common tunica vaginalis (the membrane covering the testis). It is easily recognized by its bluish tint. Then, the testis is grabbed directly through it, the skin of the scrotum is pushed upward, towards the abdominal wall. Afterwards, the testis, together with the outer membrane, is turned around itself once and sutured with a ligature as close as possible to the inguinal rings. After reliable ligation, they retreat about one centimeter from this place and cut the spermatic cord along with the membrane. Afterwards, Tricillin powder is applied to the wound and a medicinal aerosol, such as Chemisprey, is sprayed.

Castration of boars with scrotal hernia.

It is advisable to operate on hernias at an early age. Before the operation, the animal is fixed in a supine position with its hind end elevated. Then the surgical field is prepared in the same way as described above. The surgical field is numbed. The skin opposite the hernial ring is incised, while maintaining the integrity of the vaginal membrane. It is then carefully separated from the skin of the scrotum using gauze pads to prevent slipping. Next, the contents of the hernia (most likely an intestinal loop) are pushed back into the abdominal cavity. In this case, the testis, tunica vaginalis and spermatic cord are twisted around themselves two or three turns, making sure that the intestinal loop does not get in here. A ligature is sewn as close as possible to the inguinal or hernial ring and cut off. The stump is securely sutured again. The surgical field is then treated with an antibiotic and a protective aerosol is applied.

Partial castration.

To do this, the boar is strengthened in a dorsal position. The incision is made in the same way as with the open method of emaciation. Only in this case, after dissection of the vaginal membrane, the ligament that connects the appendage to the testis is not cut, due to which the testis remains well fixed. Afterwards, the tunica albuginea of the testis itself is dissected by about 2 cm and, squeezing the parenchyma of the testis with the fingers, squeezes it through the incision area, leaving only about one third of it. Then it is cauterized with an iodine solution. The remains of the testis with the appendage are set back into the cavity of the vaginal membrane. The disadvantage of this method is that the sperm production function does not stop completely.

Open methods

Castration for ligature.

Boars aged 60 days and older are bred using this method. But more often, wild boars are castrated a couple of weeks before weaning or a few days after it.

Based on characteristics such as the age or weight of the animal, it is fixed either by its hind legs upside down, or in a lying position on various devices (a bench, a special machine, on an inclined board, or on a table). You can fix the piglet on its back, bringing all four limbs together. No anesthesia is used. The hair on the skin of the scrotum is cut off, and then the incision sites are treated with any antiseptic. Next, with your left hand, grab the testis between two fingers (index and thumb), strain the skin of the scrotum and make a cut with a scalpel in all its tissues, including the vaginal membrane itself. The incision is made with a scalpel in parallel on both sides of the suture of the scrotum, retreating about one centimeter on each side.

The exposed testis is removed and the ligament that connects the appendage to the testis is cut. Then, with one hand, the testis is slightly pulled out by the cord or, conversely, the cut tissue is pushed upward, towards the abdominal wall, while exposing the cord. Afterwards a strong ligature is applied to it. Then the testis is cut off below the applied ligature. The edge of the stump is also treated with iodine solution, and the wound is covered with tricillin powder.

Castration using Zand forceps.

This technique is used in adult boars. The forceps are applied to the exposed spermatic cord and, squeezing it, crush it. It is then unscrewed until it comes off. The stump is processed in the same way as in the previous method.

Castration method by breaking the spermatic cord.

This technique is preferred for boars 10-20 days old. Its technique corresponds to the “ligature” method, but in this case, the spermatic cord is pulled up and twisted until it is completely separated, or it is cut off with a quick jerk, having first secured the spermatic cord with a clamp. The break is made near the clamp, after which it is immediately removed, and the castration wound is filled with antiseptics or emulsion.

Castration of pigs

In cold pigs, the average daily weight gain increases by an average of 10-15%, the fattening period is reduced by about a month, feed consumption is reduced by 10-20%, and the quality of meat and lard is noticeably improved. It is recommended to castrate pigs with a live weight of about 60 kg for further fattening. With the bacon type of fattening, it is not economically justified to celibate pigs.

The technique of sterilizing pigs is quite complex and is used extremely rarely.

We will tell you in detail about how to castrate a piglet, and most importantly, why, in this article. Castration, or emasculation, is done different ways. There are medical reasons or economic benefits for this. The main goal is to interrupt the functions of the gonads completely or partially. For this procedure, you can call a veterinarian, but if the owner of the farm has the skills, then you can do everything on your own. This will reduce financial costs.

The meaning of the procedure

Raising piglets is accompanied by a change in their body, which concerns an increase in the production of hormones. This is the point of puberty as animals grow. In males, this period begins at 6 months.

If you do not castrate a pig, this can lead to the following troubles:

regular sexual hunting, during which the piglet is excited and restless;
weight loss in the animal because it practically does not eat (meat quality deteriorates);
accidental insemination of a female by a male unsuitable for breeding;
aggression of a piglet (boar) - attack on relatives and people, damage to equipment, cages, causing injury to others;
a sharp and persistent smell of meat, which makes the product unsuitable for food.

If a pig is fattened for meat, then it must be single. The presence of diseases such as inflammation of the testes and ovaries, hernia, neoplasms also serve as indications for the procedure.

Working with the gonads

The castration process is based on the complete removal of the gonads or stopping their work. Eat different variants– surgical, chemical, hormonal.

The surgical method is often used for piglets at home. It is the most standard and not too complicated. This operation can be performed independently, and it involves removing the gonads. After surgery, the animal's body undergoes changes that are associated with hormones and metabolism. Below we will look at why castration is beneficial.

The advantages of emasculation are that less feed will be consumed, because hog piglets gain weight much faster than boars. Since individuals are fattened for slaughter, the meat will be of good quality, tender, without unpleasant odor or taste. It is also much easier to keep animals in groups, because they become calm and non-aggressive.

Suitable age

Now let’s find out at what age piglets are castrated. There is no clear data in this area yet, research is ongoing. However, there are recommendations that suckling young animals tolerate the operation best.

To reduce blood loss, emasculation is carried out between 10 and 45 days after the male is born. The advantage is that complications at this age are minimal, especially since it is easier to hold the animal. Wounds heal quickly, and pain relief and the use of other medications are most often not required or used in minimal quantities.

In addition, breast milk contains the necessary antibodies for speedy rehabilitation. With the sow at her side, the cubs quickly calm down.

If you choose the time of day, it is advisable to perform the operation in the morning. This gives you the opportunity to observe the piglets after castration in daylight. If vaccination or any other interventions in the animal’s body are planned, then two weeks should pass after each procedure. You can't do everything at the same time.

Before surgery

Castrated piglets must be examined before surgery in the groin area. There should be no damage to the skin of the scrotum. You can feel the spermatic cord and testicles with your fingers and determine their size. In the same place, using palpation, you need to make sure that there are no obvious pathologies in the form of a hernia, tumor, collected fluid, or omentum.

All tools must be prepared in advance. A machine for castrating piglets will help to secure the animals conveniently. With its help, they are immobilized without causing inconvenience during the operation. Often young animals are simply held with their hands, tightly squeezing their limbs.

The necessary tools for castration are scalpels, scissors, clamps to stop the bleeding, needles with a needle holder and silk thread. Disinfectants, bandages, and cotton wool are a must.

Now we’ll tell you how to properly prepare for the person who will perform the operation. You need to pay attention to your hands. Burrs are removed from fingers and nails are trimmed. Before the procedure, hands are thoroughly washed and sterile gloves are put on.

Intervention techniques

There are several known in veterinary medicine in various ways how to castrate piglets. There are options with and without blood. The latter is expensive. These are either chemical or x-ray methods. In this case, the skin is not damaged.

By intervention “with blood” we mean a direct violation of the integrity of the skin. This requires surgical manipulation. In turn, this method can be open (removal or separation of the spermatic cord) or closed (operations on large individuals). There is also partial removal of the testis, but the disadvantage is that there is no complete cessation of the functions of the gonads.

For small piglets, open castration methods are usually used. One of them is called “ligature” and is carried out from the age of two months. Another type is characterized by a break in the spermatic cord. It is carried out when the cubs are between 10 and 20 days old.

For those who breed pigs, do-it-yourself castration of piglets is more profitable option. There may be a lot of piglets, which will require investment in the services of a specialist. But, if there are any pathologies, for example, a scrotal hernia or testicular abnormalities, then it is better to call a veterinarian. If you are interested in how much such a procedure costs, it depends on the method of castration, the age of the animals, and the use of anesthesia.

Fixing the animal

The castration scheme for young animals is not complicated. It can be used at home. There is no anesthesia for piglets. Anyone will do affordable way fixation. The main thing is that it is strong.

In the scrotum area, you need to remove hair and disinfect the surface. First, you can use denatured alcohol for degreasing, and then iodine. Then you need to feel and grab the testis with your left hand. It is pulled back and an incision is made with a scalpel a centimeter from the light line (suture). Sometimes two cuts are made for each testicle. All tissues of the scrotum need to be cut.

The testis will open and needs to be removed. The spermatic cord is pinched between the fingers and a ligature is applied to it. After this, you need to retreat approximately 1 cm towards the testis and cut the cord at this point. It is advisable to lubricate the remaining stump with iodine. The edges of the wound are treated with Vaseline oil. You can choose any suitable antiseptics.

Skin treatment, incision, removal of the testis - all this also precedes the castration procedure, when the spermatic cord is cut off. The difference is that it is not cut, but pulled and twisted. Gradually it should separate. Sometimes the separation is carried out with a sharp movement. To avoid complications, the wound is treated with antiseptics.

The wound is healing

The castration procedure is quite simple and usually occurs without difficulties in young piglets. Sometimes troubles happen, which we will talk about later. The young animals are monitored for 3 days to a week to avoid complications. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the wound and the general well-being of the animal.

A castrated pig should be at rest. It is best to separate him from the herd in a separate cage. It should have clean, dry bedding, but not sawdust. They can get into the incision and cause infection. If the wound becomes red and inflamed, then you should seek help from a veterinarian.

There are frequent cases of early and late complications. The first ones occur within a few hours or immediately after surgery. The second ones are those that appear within a day or later.

Frequent troubles

Among such cases, bleeding can be distinguished. Abundant (stream) comes from the vessels of the spermatic cord, and weak (drip) from the vessels of the scrotum.

In both cases, you need to apply tweezers to these areas. If blood continues to flow from the vessels, then they are ligated, after first removing the cord from the scrotum with your fingers. It is allowed to crush it. This is when Zand forceps are applied to the stump for 5-7 minutes.

If the omentum falls out, then urgent intervention is necessary. Antiseptics must be used. The part of the oil seal that has fallen out is removed.

Intestinal prolapse is a particularly dangerous complication. It can occur even during castration, but sometimes much later. It is necessary to cleanse the intestine of contamination using an isotopic solution of sodium chloride.

The reduction operation is performed under anesthesia and with the piglet in the dorsal position. To avoid peritonitis, antibiotics are injected intramuscularly and the splanchnic nerves are blocked. All described measures must be performed by a veterinarian.

Preventive measures

To prevent complications after castration of piglets, you need to prepare the room well. All pens and bedding must be clean.

The day before the operation, the piglets are placed in a separate pen. It is advisable to wash the animal, check its body temperature and assess its general condition.

If a machine is used to secure piglets, then a washstand and all the necessary tools are placed nearby. They are pre-disinfected, like all work surfaces. If there is no machine, and the animal is held by hand, then all the devices should be nearby. After one individual has been castrated, all utensils and hands need to be treated with an antiseptic. Then you can take the next pig.

The correct technique of the procedure allows you to avoid many complications in piglets. If possible, you need to watch how a specialist does it, and only then undertake the operation yourself at home.

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