Ring Expander

Use for castrating and docking lambs and goat kids.

• 8.5" long
• Plated steel

Fly-strike is less likely with this method than other methods because it's bloodless.

Expands the elastic "O" rings enough to allow them to be slid over the tail or scrotum (including testicles) and then released. Ring steadily squeezes shut all arteries supplying blood. Without blood, tail & scrotum dry up and drop off over a period of 10 - 20 days.

Premier Tip: When putting rubber "O" rings on your ring expander, turn or twist them on about half way down. When you roll them on, they seem to go all the way down and this makes it harder to get off the expander when banding a lamb or goat.

• Though it causes more distress (particularly ram lambs that are both castrated & docked), this lasts less than an hour if the lambs are less than 7 days old (because the nervous system is less developed).
• Rings (all sources) occasionally break so it's wise to check results a week later.

Concerns:

1. Failing to ensure that both testicles are actually in the scrotum below the ring. This can be tricky with baby lambs and kids because the testicles are small.
2. Applying rings before a lamb or kid is 24 hours old, up on its feet, nursing and active. To do so interrupts nursing and predisposes lamb to rapid death from E. coli problems ("watery mouth"). Many wait at least 2 days to apply on twins, triplets and orphans.
3. Rubber rings can cause tetanus. Be sure to vaccinate ewes or does with a booster dose prior to parturition.