Why do we need castration of pigs?

The rules of breeding pigs require fur farmers to castrate piglets. This is the process of removal of the reproductive organ, in which the males eliminate the ovaries, the females - the ovaries and uterus (complete castration) or only the ovaries (partial castration). After the operation, individuals lose the ability to reproduce, but at the same time their characteristic instincts, behavior, habits and preferences remain.

Castration is widely used in agriculture to increase the weight of individuals and improve the quality of meat. In pig breeding, boars and boars are castrated; after surgery, they are called boars. Why and how to do this, we will examine in detail in this publication.

Pig production is one of the most profitable branches of modern agriculture. An important step in maintaining the breed condition is castration of piglets. This is the process of elimination of the genitals in males and females. It is a surgical operation, after which the animals can no longer breed and quickly gain weight.

Castration improves the quality characteristics of meat. The operation has a number of features, which we describe in detail in this publication.

Castration of farm animals is a successful world practice with ancient traditions. Castration is a surgical process as a result of which an individual deprives it of its reproductive organs. In principle, both male and female can be neutered, but in pig breeding most often it is the boar or boar who is emasculated; after that, it bears the honorary title of “hog”. Why do this?

Purpose, reasons

Castration is the most effective method to make aggressive animals docile and peaceful. From ancient times, livestock breeders used it in order to improve the taste characteristics of meat. Castrated animals quickly gain weight, their meat is more tender, fragrant and tastes better.

Puberty makes the boars aggressive towards each other. This creates many problems for both animals and pig breeders. After the mature male gains more than 100 kg, an extremely unpleasant odor starts to emanate from him, which is transmitted to the meat as well.Dishes from such pork can not be called fragrant, they have a repulsive smell and unpleasant taste. After castration, all these problems disappear.

In castrated pigs, the metabolism and blood biochemical indices change completely, they recover quickly, and the meat becomes fragrant, tender, with even layers of fat.

In order to grow a neutered animal will require significantly less feed, therefore, it is possible to achieve the planned gain with less cost than with an uncased animal.

Merits

The main advantages of early castration include:

• low resistance of individuals;
• minimal blood loss;
• rapid wound healing;
• rarely complications occur;
• low pain defect in young (use local anesthesia or do not use painkillers at all);
• the operation can be performed without the help of a third party.

disadvantages

If castration was not done carefully, the animals were inattentively examined and poorly prepared, then the operation can lead to serious complications (bleeding of the omentum, swelling or inflammation). In this case, with the help of a specialist, they quickly solve the problems that have arisen.

Animal age

Young boars are castrated; they must be at least 10 days old and not older than 45 days. Surgery is most often used for monthly piglets, but some experts insist on the feasibility of castration of babies who are planning to be separated from their mother in 5 days! In this case, all wounds heal before weaning and before transplanting to another pen.

It is now generally accepted that the best time for an operation is 14 days from the moment of birth. Bacon pigs are operated in 2 months. Pigs that are grown for fattening, castrated no later than 6 months. offspring

Separately, they talk about medical castration, which is carried out in the event that there is mechanical damage to the testes or acute inflammatory processes occur in them.

Surgery is recommended for surgical treatment of hernia diseases.

Castration is perceived as an unavoidable measure to facilitate the maintenance of large groups of fattened animals.

Castration

For an exercise, it is best to invite a veterinarian or "seasoned" farmerwho has a lot of practice. If the pig farmer plans to independently perform all the necessary procedures without a machine, then he will need an assistant who can reliably hold the animal.

The first thing you need to do is to put the piglet on your lap with your back, while firmly fixing the head (clamped between the knees) and legs (held with your hands).

After this, the castrating fur farmer pulls on the scrotum so that it would be convenient to cut it parallel to the natural whitish line. After the incision, it is necessary to squeeze the testicles out of the membrane and separate them from the ligament. The testicle is placed in the left hand, and the right hand - pick up the spermatic cord and cut it off (you can carefully cut). The same procedure is repeated with another testicle, the resulting wound is treated with iodine solution.

Experts note that only veterinarians can castrate sick animals. Vaccination or deworming of pigs is carried out only 2 months after or before castration.

A place

Mass castration is carried out on a pig farm, in the summer it can be done on the street.Pre-equip permanent or temporary space for operations. To do this, set the table and lay out in the designated place prepared tools and materials. Next to him have a washstand and baths in which the surgeon can handle his hands.

It is necessary that the place for the operation is well lit and protected from drafts, and also sheltered from precipitation, if it is located on the street. It is necessary to organize a relative isolation of the operating room so that the neuter is not distracted by foreign objects.

Animal preparation

The day before the operation, animals are examined and selected only those that have no infectious diseases and developmental disorders (hermophrodism, cryptorchidism or hernia). Before surgery, adults are anesthetized by intramuscular injection of a 4% azaperone solution. Dose calculated from the ratio of 1 ml per 10 kg of live weight. Young animals can be anesthetized locally or not at all.

In order to prepare the operational field, you must:

remove hair;

Hair cut off with scissors or shaved with a razor. In young animals, the hair is not removed, because they have very rare and thin.

perform a mechanical cleaning of the operating area by degreasing;

Perform wiping with a cotton or gauze pad, pre-moistened in:

5% solution of ammonia;

50% alcohol-ether solution;

clean gasoline.

disinfect the area, followed by tanning;

Tanning is performed in different ways, the most common is that the work area is rubbed every 5 minutes with a 5% alcoholic solution of iodine (or formalin if sweating). When dermatitis use 5% aqueous solution of potassium permanganate. If there is no purulent inflammation, treatment is carried out from the center to the borders of the operating area.

isolate the operating area.

Instruments

Thanks to advanced technology and modern innovation, we have created universal tools, special equipment and original devices that allow one person to quickly, accurately and as accurately as possible castrate.

This device is made of alloy steel, it meets all sanitary and hygienic requirements, which are regulated by current legislation. It is easy to wash, store and transport. The device can be used for castration, knocking tails or iron injections.The machine reliably fixes piglets and deservedly recognized as the safest tool for castration.

For all types of farm animals used universal tongs for castration. They are considered the most simple and humane tool. Currently, stationary and mobile machines are actively used. Sharp scalpels with detachable blades are often used to trim the sternal flagellum.

Castration by the closed method is impossible without an acute scalpel for the belly and scissors, before use they are disinfected in alkaline water or in an antiseptic solution. You can apply other methods of disinfection of metal instruments.

Castration methods

Currently, there are two types of castration:

open;

Surgery begins with the fact that the scrotum is cut so that the testis can safely go beyond its chapels. After that, the transitional ligament is separated either by hand or with a scalpel. Then a ligature is applied to the spermatic cord. This is a special medical material that is used in surgery to create stitches or ligation of lymphatic and blood vessels. In this case, it is used with sterile threads without a needle. From the ligature retreat 1.5 cm and carefully cut off the seminal flagellum. This method is most often applied to juveniles.

closed.

Surgical intervention does not involve the opening of the vaginal membrane, it is carefully separated from the adjacent tissues with a gauze pad. After that, a ligature is placed on that part of the spermatic flagellum, which is located closer to the inguinal ring, and the testis is carefully torn off below it.

This method is used for old, sick hernia specimens.

Process description

Castration is a multi-stage process that requires the artist to fully concentrate and special skills. The success of the whole operation depends on the qualitative performance of each stage.

Fixing

It is important to calm the piglet and confidently lay it either in the prepared machine or on its knees with its back down. At the same time, the front and the hind legs are squeezed with the left and right hands and clamp the head (either in the designated opening of the machine, or between your own knees, or your armpit).

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In the perineal zone, between the base of the tail and the lower border of the scrotum, the surgeon with his left hand squeezes the testes into the seed bag, fixing them with the thumb and forefinger, in order to tighten the skin. In the area of ​​the scrotum make an accurate and deep incision along the scrotal suture, departing from it not less than 0.5 cm and not more than 1 cm.

Special reception

The testicle in the common vaginal sheath is quickly removed by a sharp movement of the fingers of his left hand. Then they push the edges of the scrotum towards the inguinal canal, cover the spermatic cord with a ligature and tie a knot. Depart from it 1-1.5 cm in the direction of the testis and cut off the seed flagellum. So do the second testicle.

Completion

The wound is not closed, it is not sewn up, but sprinkled with antibiotic powder, after removing blood clots from it.In this case, the wound does not accumulate exudate.

Care after surgery

In postoperative time castrated need to be monitored. They are transferred to a clean machine, now sawdust can not serve as a litter, because they can get into the wound and interfere with its healing. For bedding is recommended to use non-barley straw. If the wound does not heal well and festers, then it must be treated with an antiseptic. If complications arise (bleeding or bowel loops fall out), then it is necessary to invite a veterinarian and promptly eliminate the negative consequences.