This document provides information on castrating male lambs and kids. It discusses the best age for castration (1-2 weeks), sanitation procedures, reasons for castrating (more docile animals, better carcass), and methods for castrating including surgical removal of testicles, using an emasculator, bloodless methods like the elastrator and burdizzo. Proper restraint of the animal and techniques for each method are outlined.

1. Castration in Kids/Lambs
LM-613

2. Castration
• process of rendering the animal ineffective for breeding
• Male lamb and male kid should be castrated in early age
• The best age of castration is 1 to 2 weeks
• It is best to early in the morning when the weather is not
too cold and when the sun is shining brightly
• the animals should not be allowed out in rainy season
after castration

3. • animals that will be kept inside after castration, change
the bedding of the animals prior to or immediately after
castrating
• Because castrating is usually a surgical procedure, proper
sanitation is essential
• Clean all instruments and soak them (including elastrator
bands) in a disinfectant (chlorhexidine) for at least 10
minutes before beginning the procedure
• Dip or soak the instruments in chlorhexidine between
each castration

4. Reasons for Castrating
• Castrated animals produce a more desirable carcass and
have greater development in the regions of the higher
priced cuts (i.e. leg, loin and sirloin cuts)
• Castrated animals are more docile and finish more
uniformly than intact animals
• Intact males also annoy and harass the females in the
flock/herd or in feedlot pens of mixed genders

5. When to Castrate
• The preferable age for castration is 2-21 days in kids/lambs
• It is preferred to castrate at 2-4 days to help reduce the
stress placed on the animal
• These animals will generally be playing and jumping the
next day

6. • Complications can arise when lambs/kids are allowed to
get 4 to 6 weeks old before they are castrated or if they
are castrated during the height of the fly season
• Animals (particularly goats) several months old often
require anesthesia to safely perform a castration

7. How to Castrate
• The time-honored method of castration in sheep where
the testicles are removed by the teeth of the producer will
probably never be replaced
• In addition to this method, there are several instruments
that are commonly used to remove the testicles
• Many of these instruments and techniques are discussed
in the following information

8. Restraint
• For small animals, the holder places the
lamb/kid on its rump (dock) in a sitting
position with the four legs properly held
and spread apart
• This particular restraint is called the
"hock-lock.“

9. • When castrating a lamb, he should be slightly tilted back
on the shelf/table so that the tail can be held by the body
of the person doing the castrating.
• This will force the lamb’s back to straighten and make it
easier to get at the testicles once the scrotum is opened.
• Larger animals are often tranquilized and held in a
standing position.

10. Surgical Castration
• Cut the lower one-third of the scrotum
completely off using a sharp pocket knife
or blade
• The scrotum can be cut with one slice if
it is pulled away from the body and
stretched with one hand while cutting
with the other
• To help prevent infection, latex gloves
can be worn and changed often

11. • The thumb and first finger are used
to push the testicles out by pressing
at the base of the testicles where the
cord can be felt as it enters the
abdomen

12. • A knife should never be
used to cut the cord directly.
This will result in excessive
bleeding

13. Emasculator
• Emasculator can be used after the lower
one-third of the scrotal sack has been
cut-off and the testicles are visible
• The emasculator is used to cut and crush
the cords above each of the testicles and
remove them
• After the cord is cut, the instrument
should be left in place for a few seconds
to allow additional crushing and help
prevent excessive blood loss

14. Bloodless Castration
• The Elastrator and the Burdizzo bloodless castration
instruments are two of the most common
• The Burdizzo was quite popular at one time, but because
of careless application that resulted in a high number of
semi-castrated animals
• This instrument also requires more skill to properly use
and often takes more time to castrate the lamb or goat
than any of the other methods

15. Elastrator
• Using rubber rings (bands) that
are applied above the testicles by
a tool
• it cuts off the circulation in the
scrotum and the testicles and
scrotum eventually fall off.
• This procedure can be done safely
in any weather; however, animals
are in pain and discomfort longer
with this method

16. • Take the elastrator and place
the ring (band) over both
testicles and as close to the
body as possible. Make sure
that the prong ends and the
elastrator ring are next to the
body. If they are not, the
elastrator is difficult to remove
once the ring is collapsed

17. • The elastrator ring should be
placed near the top of the
scrotum, but should not go
above the two rudimentary teats
(one is identified by the black
arrow).
• Before releasing the ring, be
certain both testicles are below
the ring.
• If it is necessary to remove the
elastrator ring, release it by
cutting it with a knife.

18. Burdizzo
• In this method cord does not
slip out
• Only one cord is clamped so the
testicle will continue to develop
• There should be no interference
of blood circulation
• Testicles are made functionless
through destroy their functions

19. • This procedure should not be performed on large animals
because the extra tissue around each cord should prevent
adequate crushing
• Apply the Burdizzo to only one cord at a time
• The Burdizzo should not be applied across the entire
scrotum in an attempt to sever both cords in one
operation