Using an elastrator

[Boondox]

Okay, what's the trick? I gave this a couple of tries on poor Weasley the wannabe ram this past weekend, but had to keep cutting them off because one side or the other would sneak back to safety when I released the band! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif The idea is to castrate the little fella, not turn him into a one nut wonder! I've heard elastrators are easier than the surgical method. How do you old timers do it? Pete

 

[JerryG]

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifThats funny. I got a good laugh. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
As far as what you are doing or doing wrong, I would guess that you are not holding the want-a-be still enough.

 

[cowboydoc]

Although I've never done a ram I've done more calves than I can count. The mistake most people make is you have to grab hold and pull down. Don't be gentle. You aren't going to tear them. Take the thumb and forefinger and pull down pretty hard. Pinch them there. Then with your free hand slip the band over your finger and thumb. Drop the banders and then slide the band down off your finger and above the family jewels. Make sure when you pinch that you leave a 1/2" or so to have plenty of room to slide the band back on.

 

[beenthere]

Just remember (you probably are finding out already!) that that "wannabe" is going to be harder to catch each time after you 'miss'. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The lamb breeder (and showman at 6 state fairs in the 50's from Iowa) that I worked for would always (while I held them) snip the end of the sack off, squirt one at a time out of the sack, take it in his teeth to pull it (keeps the manure off), and cut the cord. It was a process that didn't take long. Interesting to watch, but a bit uncomfortable when you were standing so close. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[daedong]

I would suggest that you may be a little too delicate . place the ring over the bag (scrotum) fully expanded with the prongs of the expander towards the lamb get the testis through the ring, once you have them on the opposite or outside of ring squeeze the testis as hard as you can towards the end of the bag and push ring towards body at the same time ,then release the handle /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[LarryRB]

I'm a bit surprised with all these farmers that obviously know what they're telling you, that none, suggested, if your not sure, test it once on yourself. I go hide in bunker now.. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[riptides]

After reading your post, I have to go take a walk to settle myself down.

YEOUCH.
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Mike Z said, "After reading your post, I have to go take a walk to settle myself down."

You mean you can actually get out of your chair? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm afraid to move..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

 

[Youare]

This reminds me of an experience my son had with a bull calf he purchased fullly equiped. We had altered a couple of goats with the rubber bands with very good luck.

I always got the wife to do the banding while I did the holding. Some how she didn't have the same point of reference for the emotional pain in thinking of what was happening here.

My son and his friend waited unitl the calf got a little too big when he tried to alter the bull. He told me they put a rubber band on but didn't think it was quite right. Mother and I went out to check on the situation.

He was right, we quickly cut the misplaced rubber band off. Several weeks later he called the vet to come do the job correctly. As my son held the calf for the vet the vet was half done when he looked at my son and said I forgot to tell you we have a two for one deal today, after I finsh the cow you can be next. It will keep you out of trouble.

Randy

 

[Bob_Skurka]

My daughter has been asking for some livestock and being a cityboy transplant I thought it would be a good idea. but I am smart enough to realize that livestock comes with a lot of learning and I put the condition on her that I'll buy it, but she has to join the 4-H and learn how to care for it . . . and oh by the way, I plan on eating it.

Well she doesn't like the eating part of the condition. And after reading this thread, I'm not so sure I like the "caring for it" part of the condition I put on her. Unless maybe she only gets ewes?

I figure I should be able to walk again sometime later this afternoon?

 

[beenthere]

Your experience with the 'older' calf reminds me of a friend who was a PHD Chem Engineer, and carefully studied every situation in fine detail, including two bull calves on his hobby farm that kept growing (as he studied the 'process' of fixing them).
So, after studying the band method (needed a tool), hiring it done (didn't want to spend that kind of money), or pinching the cords, he eventually opted to buy the pinching tool.
Well, after bull dogging the first calf, not knowing that the pincher was to do ONE side at a time (he tried the whole scrotum), he couldn't get the pincher to close (kind of a 'over dead center' deal and 'snap shut' to know when to quit), so gave up, let the calf go, and asked the neighbor farmer what he was doing wrong. The farmer had a good laugh (at the calf's expense) and told the the guy that the idea was to pinch one side at a time. So, he caught the second calf (which was unwary of what was happening), because he couldn't catch the first one again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Managed to successfully fix the one calf, but never caught the other one. Had to sell it as a young bull. No one could get near it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif He also never had a reason to use the pinchers again, which were pretty expensive. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[skent]

Reminds me of when my 9 year old daughter was cleaning out a stall, thought she had found a dead mouse. She held up her finding and said "Look Dad, Rusty must have stomped this mouse!" I replied "You Didn't find a mouse, You found Rusty's Boys!". She let out a scream and headed for the house. Must have spent an hour washing her hands.

 

[Boondox]

Now that's funny! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[heehaw]

if the need ever arises, i have always heard, the best way to fix a cat, is to stick him head first into an old pair of cowboy boots...i always wondered if the boots where wearable after that??
heehaw

 

[beenthere]

Not heard of the cowboy boot, but a zipper overshoe worked for a vet I worked for in HighSchool (except for one Siamese cat that he had to fix. There was just no way that cat was going to go head first into that boot. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Had to put it under to do the fixin').

 

[EastTexFrank]

This thread has brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Boondox]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This thread has brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )</font>

You ought to have seen what it did to the ram!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Pete