When done properly, elastic band castration (banding) is quick, requires minimal restraint, is less invasive than surgical methods and eliminates the need for stitches.
Tag Archives castration
Stress-free banding castration for calves
Manitoba rancher Jodi Suchoplas outlines her tips on castration for cow-calf operations
Pain control at castration in calves has obvious benefits
A recent survey on pain mitigation at castration yielded highly encouraging results
You probably won’t make money by using pain control, but your calves will feel better, pair up faster and you’ll be doing something that promotes animal welfare in your industry.
Castration via banding is gaining popularity and safety
The first castration banders were likely developed to replace knife or scalpel castration. They were easy to use and eliminated the complications of infections and blood loss. Castration with a knife or scalpel is harder to master and animal welfare issues must be considered. Banders have been around for a while and I recently saw […] Read more
Pain control aids calves at castration
While a recent study found that calf comfort improves with use of pain control, it didn’t help increase their daily gain
A recent study found that young calves show more pain responses when not treated with pain control at castration. However, the study also showed that there was no impact on average daily gain by mitigating the pain at castration. There is no requirement in the Canadian Beef Code of Practice for pain control for castration […] Read more
Calf castration requires humane approach, code compliance
The younger, the better when it comes to cattle castration, and proficient techniques will reduce stress and losses in the herd. Band application at birth or at a young age, or knife castration at or before turnout, are the two most desirable ways. The beef code of practice requires pain control for any animal older […] Read more
