Agricultural News
Dave Sparks Asks, 'Isn't It Time for a Serious Look at the Facts of Castration?'
Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:23:54 CST
In the latest issue of the Cow-Calf Newsletter, Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University Area Extension Veterinarian, weighs the economic and ethical ramifications of castration.
One of the statements I commonly hear from calf producers is that bulls bring just as much as steers, so why bother? While top quality light bull calves may bring as much as plainer quality steers, these producers are not comparing apples to apples, because there is a marked difference in similar quality steer and bull calves. According to Lindsey Grant of McAlester Union Stockyards, there is currently about a $5 to $7/cwt price difference between bulls and steers of similar quality at weights between 425 and 550 pounds. On calves between 550 and 650 pounds the gap widens to about $12/cwt, and for 800 pound yearlings the difference can easily be $25/cwt. This translates to lost revenue of $30.00, $72.00, or $200.00 respectively. With today's high input costs for fuel, feed, hay, labor, equipment, fertilizer, and pasture this can easily be the difference in a profit or a loss.
Why do stocker and feeder operators want the calves castrated before arrival at their new homes? There are several good reasons. No matter what procedure you use, it involves pain and stress for the calf. This stress leads to increased chances of health problems such as shipping fever or pneumonia. When the calves are castrated at a young age and while still on their mothers this risk is negligible, but when added to the stresses of weaning, marketing, transporting and comingling at the feedlot or background yard it becomes a major factor. In short, the stress is much easier for the calf to handle if he can run back to "mama." Research has shown that calves arriving at feedlots as bulls are twice as likely to get sick as steers and death losses are significantly higher. Additionally, rates of gain are affected for weeks versus days when they are "ranch weaned and castrated." Steers also have less aggression and sexual activity which translates into better gains. Steers have a lower incidence of "dark cutters". Steers have higher and more consistent quality grades due to better marbling. Steer carcasses command higher prices on the market. Stocker and feeder operators know all of this. They operate in a very competitive world on tight margins and have to factor these things into the prices they are willing to pay for your calves. If they don't they won't be in business to be buyers for your calves for very long.
There are several acceptable methods of castration and the best choice depends on your operation. Many producers today feel most comfortable with banding to interrupt the blood supply to the genitals of the calf. With all types of banders the calf is susceptible to tetanus and protection should be used. Newborns and very young calves can be castrated with the small sheep type bands. Because very young animals are not yet able to respond immunologically, they should be given tetanus antitoxin, which is a passive transfer of immune products which protects them. Older calves can be castrated with the Calicrate™ bands and bander. This procedure works well on larger calves and yearlings but is more expensive for both the application instrument and the bands. With this technique calves should be protected at the time of the procedure with tetanus antitoxin or three weeks before-hand with tetanus toxoid. The tetanus protection offered by products commonly known as 8-way blackleg is tetanus toxoid and thus offers no protection to very young calves or calves vaccinated at the time of banding. With all types of banding procedures it is very important to make sure that both testicles are well down in the scrotum and below the band. Failure to do so may result in a "stag" which is very undesirable on the market. After the band is correctly applied the scrotum and testicles gradually die and drop off after two or three weeks.
Surgical castration or "knife cut" requires more expertise but is less expensive and more reliable. Tetanus protection is not generally required if proper sanitation is observed and there is no cost for bands or banders. While initially painful, young animals quickly forget the procedure and return to normal feed and activities. It is important to remove enough of the scrotum to allow the wound to drain freely in order to avoid infection and possible septicemia (blood poisoning). Many ranchers fear excessive hemorrhage, but this is usually not a concern if the procedure is done early, and is almost never a factor if proper procedures are observed. In warm weather an aerosol can of insect repellant sprayed on the wound will keep the flies off of the surgical site. If you are not comfortable with surgical castration but want to incorporate it into your management have your local veterinarian help you and teach you the proper procedure. In some communities the high school agriculture teacher is willing to help you in order to teach his students the procedure.
Other techniques including restricting the testicles to a high position near the body or chemical castration are not generally accepted. Burdizzo™ emasculators, also referred to as bloodless castrators, can be effective when properly applied, but can result in unsuccessful results if absolute care is not taken to position them correctly. No matter what method of castration you choose, the main message is to do it early. Castration on newborns fits some ranchers best, while others prefer to wait until the calves are old enough to receive their vaccines at 3 or 4 months of age. In either case returning to their mothers and familiar surroundings greatly limits the stress and the after effects.
The beef industry requires that male calves be castrated in order to provide a high quality, cost effective product to the consumer. At the same time, increasing concern for animal welfare is calling for either early castration or application of pain control methods (anesthesia). As a beef producer you have an obligation to "do the right thing" voluntarily before legislation forces change on us, perhaps taking this procedure out of the hands of the rancher. Luckily, this is one time that "doing the right thing" will also boost the profitability of your operation.
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