anyone ever castrate and/or debud goat kids?

[k_jerome]

just had our first set of twins, one male one female.

not looking forward to doing these tasks. anyone have experience or advice?

[Vincardog]

1. Go to the farm supply store. They have a tool. It spreads strong small

rubber bands that fit over the sack.

Make sure the contents are fully in the bag and release the tool. The offending parts are strangulated and fall off over time.
On the off chance you are growing the goats for meat you might want to leave the happy bag full. The kid will grow faster and some say be more flavorful.

[FtWayneBlue]

8. Basically correct, although

billy goat meat is nearly impossible to eat. The meat tastes like rotten urine (and the billy goat) smells.

We always used the little rubber band method to make wethers out of our male kid goats.

As far as dehorning goes, we used a hot bud killer similar to a soldering iron. It stank and I am sure hurt. I don't know what other options there are, although we did saw some grown-up horns partially thru and put the same bands on them. It didn't work quite as well, tho.

[Vincardog]

15. (and the billy goat) smells: that might have something to with the way they attract the nannie goat

[bahrbearian]

2. I castrated Bull cows and Sheep before

I don't think you should castrate the Female thought (heh heh). The sheep we'd us rubber type bands at a very early age 2-4 days, the Bull cows we'd use a very sharp Knife at any age.

[musette_sf]

3. there are a couple of goat groups on Yahoo Groups

where the knowledgeable denizens would be more than happy to answer your question:

GoatsPlus

Goats_101

you might even find a message in either one of the archives to help you with this.

(are you naming the female Hillary? just thought I'd ask ;-))

[EST]

4. I have done both.

What would you like to know?

[k_jerome]

10. what method is best for castration?

thanks.

[EST]

13. Although there are many people who advocate the use

of a rubber band device for both castration and horn removal, I do not.
The reasons:
I suspect many people wish to avoid the "ick" factor involved in caring for animals and therefore want some method to keep from having to get their hands dirty. If you are going to raise animals, you have to accept all parts of the care and feeding thereof, IMO.

For castration, the best method is fast and nearly pain free. First of all, I recommend hand feeding of kids: it benefits the care giver and helps regulate exactly what they get, as well as keeps the does on a proper milking schedule. When you hand feed, the delightful mommas will often bring their babies to the gate to have you feed them as well as often do their "hollerin'" for them-telling you it's supper time.

While they are eating is the best time for castration. Their testicles have very few pain nerves and usually the little bucks will not only not complain but will not even stop eating-especially if you delay supper by a few minutes.
Make sure your hands are squeaky clean and use a good anti-biotic topical. I always use gentian violet for both this little operation and for applying to their naval cord areas immediately after birth because it works and doesn't hurt, like alcohol, as well as it's easy to see where it has been applied.

I always use a razor blade to make a small vertical slit on the back side of the scrotum and then lightly press the testicle out through this slit.

Do not simply cut the connecting deferens through, but scrape it through by a side to side motion of the blade. A straight cut can cause a bleeding problem while scraping it through makes a bit more ragged cut and gives any bleeding a better chance to clot. This may sound terribly complicated, but, after a time or two, it is quick, simple and, unless you cut your own finger, pain free.

Be sure to coat the scrotum liberally with the gentian violet and check your work a few minutes or a half hour later as well as the next morning, to make sure there are no complications. I have never had a single problem with this method and only once, in dozens and dozens of operations, have I had a little fellow give a brief little ma-a-a and look at me suspiciously before going back to eating.

I would never, ever ever use the rubber band method because it is not particularly reliable, since the bands can be rubbed off or fall off and can leave the poor babies open to all sorts of infection plus costing you peace of mind, money and nasty pain to the kids. Imagine having to amputate a part of your body by cutting off the blood flow and making it rot and fall off.

That's cruel and not very responsible.

If you have a friend who is a vet, getting them to do the operation is usually pretty cheap but, if you raise several kids, it can get expensive.

Good luck with your goats. They are so rewarding and so intelligent that it can be a project that you'll never want to quit. In my opinion, all phases of animal husbandry are the responsibility of the keeper and should never be farmed out unless there is some over powering reason to do so. Being the faithful servant as well as the master of your charges is a humbling and strengthening experience that will reward you in ways that can seldom be achieved or even understood by outsiders. Thanks for allowing me to contribute.

[tularetom]

5. For sheep, we used to use a rubber band device

around their scrotal sac, which basically shrivelled up and disappeared after about 7 days. It wasn't particularly unpleasant. There is a tool available for sheep castration. We also used to dock their tails so shit wouldn't get stuck in them. I don't know why goats would be any different.

[John Q. Citizen]

6. Debuding is more difficult than castrating.

The banding method is pretty easy.

I have horned wethers that I pack with.

[Justitia]

7. ya know, the breadth of experience of DUers never ceases to amaze me. You elitists! LOL

BTW, my own hubby has done cattle and hogs - LOTS of hogs.

[DKRC]

9. The banding tool is excellent. Also pick up the spray on disinfectant. I always used it first.

Then band over it to cut down on the chance of infection.
My husband couldn't stand to watch me do this particular chore so he'd hold the buck over his shoulder with it's legs spread and look away while I banded it.
:evilgrin:

Edited to say: I never dehorned my goats. Horns are their natural defense, and came in very handy - where the head goes, the body follows.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. I don't have any experience with goats, but we raised cows.

My dad used the rubber band method for castration and it worked very well. We also dehorned the calves with a dehorning paste. You had to shave the hair away from the horn buttons and apply the paste with a brush. I don't know what was in it, probably a caustic substance, but it worked and didn't seem to cause any discomfort to the calves. The area would form what looked like a scab which fell off after a couple of weeks. We used Listerine for a disinfectant on the umbilical cord and when castrating.

Good luck.

[Bluerthanblue]

12. I've used the 'elastrator' on many

lambs- for neutering, and docking tails-

A few tips- do it earlier rather than later- I wouldn't go this route after the kid was over a few days old- like three at max.

If you are in an area where it isn't going to be cold for the next several weeks, check and make sure that there is no insect infestation- the sack basically dies, and falls off- leaving no open wound-

Expect the kid to be pretty uncomfortable for a few hours after elastration- Letting him nurse helps, him, the mom (who is bound to be disturbed) and you- a contented kid, makes a contented farmer.

I made my own 'elastrator' when I was a teen- tired of borrowing my 4-H leaders each time a lamb was born. It isn't all that difficult- I used a large dowel- (actually it was an old chair leg), and a short piece of discarded vacuum cleaner pipe. If you want more details I'm happy to elaborate.

As for horns, my personal experience with dairy cows, Finn Sheep, and a handful of goats over the years makes me encourage you to let the horns be- A botched de-horning can be more dangerous than natural horns, and if you are castrating your male, he's not going to be very aggressive. I also agree that the horns offer a tiny bit of 'defense'-

Good luck- and congratulations on the kids!!

[k_jerome]

14. quick picture of the twins...

the grayish one is the female....