The 4 Common Methods of Docking and Castrating Lambs & Kids
The 4 common methods of docking and castrating:
- Emasculatome—Crushes the spermatic cords. Does not cut skin of scrotum. Thus no blood and less risk of fly-strike. Testicles dry up; scrotum shrinks within 21 days. Never clamp the entire scrotum with a single squeeze. Never allow the opposing marks (on each side) to meet.
- Rubber Rings (Bands)—An expander stretches the ring(s) open to allow sliding it over a tail or scrotum. When released the ring(s) squeezes the arteries shut. Tail and/or scrotum will drop off in 7 to 14 days. Though the ring method causes more distress than a knife or emasculator, the distress normally lasts less than 30 minutes if lambs are less than 7 days old.
- Side Crusher Emasculatome—Unique design allows side access to scrotum to crush spermatic cord—and thus much better vision and access for smaller lambs/kids.
- Double Crush Tail Docker—Crushes the arteries before severing them cleanly—and so minimizes risk of serious bleeding. Works on lambs up to 70 days of age.