Castration/banding

Did it before with yearlings, in late February, well vet did at a herd test. Worked well and was adamant to give a booster for tetanus, despite being done twice as calves. So vaccinated them as he was doing. Takes a good 6-8 weeks for all the dangling bits to fall off. Better to have them going to grass or on grass for 2 months.

Now band Suckler calves before 3 days with a lambing ring, better job as there is no set back at all, much much safer and easier to band when a few days old

Like with Covid the first vaccine gives poor protection so don't castrate until after the second one

We're they in the shed? Any issues with them lying on slats after getting banded?

Never any problem In the first 2-3 weeks. The key time to keep clean is the final 4-8 weeks as the dangling bits fall off. You have a wound that is slowly healing and cutting at the same time. This period I feel needs to be outside either spring or autumn. Maybe @greysides might be able to shed more light on it

I normally sell my bull weanlings in autumn but this year i have decided to keep them. It will be the first time i will have bulls for winter and I would prefer to castrate them before i wean them. They are all Feb&Mar born calves. Are they too old or strong to casatrate using the burdizo clams. The neighbour has one and could do it for me.

Another question on castration. If you had an E-grade weanling bull would you castrate and keep as bullock, sell now as a bull weanling in mart or keep and slaughter under 16 month as bull

Ch around 400kg. I'm keep all the bull weanlings now, changing system here to keep bullocks. Just wondering about this fella what might be the best thing to do

Yes. Just 1 pin of cows and will buy in weanlings. Will keep the best cows that are producing the best char calves. Working off farm and young family, it's hard going with all cows and calves. Might change back again in few years

I would say that is vet only you need to apply an epidural ideally

IMO if animals are older a budizzer is best. Eldest lad has done them up above 450 kgs.

Ive done similar, the weight or age isn’t an issue so much as how fleshed the bull is.

Was it knobbled or twisted, I am after coming home from the pub and I am slightly twisted

You're lucky that you don't have to milk in the mornings, Bass!

Luck has nothing to do with that

Plus one on that. I do them up to 7 days old. Tag dehorning and banding done together at average of 5 days. Great job and a lot easier on man and beast

most are grand for doing but you’ll meet the odd one that’s difficult to get both balls down. Like anything you’ll get better with practice and experience. Most important thing is to make sure both balls are down.

there isn’t much space left once you get ring on above the balls so you end up with the ring a half an inch/ maybe an inch above the balls.