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heritage ranch Profile
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Registered: 05-2009
Location: central colorado rockies
Posts: 130
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swine castration :(


castrating a pig is a barbaric thing. there is no other way but to cut them. they dont hang down so banding wont work. it is the one part of my job that hurts. there are other things that are not fun, like having to put down a sick or injured animal. but castration is a choice. my self, on my ranch, i DONT castrate for this very reason. before i started with my own animals i helped castrate once. this is a bit more than some can handle so you may wish to skip to the next paragraph as will no explain how a pig is castrated. the first time i participated the pigs were a bit older than the boss would have liked so it was much harder for us. basically you grab the pig and hold it down while someone takes a scalple to the scrotum. make a cut and squeezes the testicle out far enough to grab. the pigs dont scream that much up to this point, but then the testicle is pulled out till most of the attaching tissue tears then the cords are cut. i can not imagine the pain they must feel, i can only judge by the way they scream and struggle. it is amazing how powerful a 30# pig can be. it takes all 2 big guys have to hold them down while a 3rd does the cutting. once they are done and let go, they dont show much sign of continuing pain, but that is not very comforting to me.

i wish i never would witness or partake in this ever again. but yet i do so. not to my pigs where i am boss, but on the ranch where i work 4 days a week. the boss there chooses to castrate so that he doesnt have to deal with "boar taint" a small percent of people notice a "strong flavor/smell) when cooking an intact boar. from my experience this would only happen with an older breeding boar not with one of normal butcher size/age. but my boss has had a few complaints over the years and has decided to castrate all boars to avoid the trouble. i coment on how bad it is and he knows. but unless i can show him a better way, he will continue to castrate. on my little ranch i avoid any issues with boar taint by butchering the boars at a younger age and this works for me even though it is not as cost effective since the yield is lower, but i can sleep at night knowing i did not torture my pigs. also when i have older normal butcher size/age hogs, i make them into sausage, the spices would mask any taint that might be present and prevent someone from complaining. unfortunately the boss feels he has to many animals to use this approach on his ranch. so for now, till i find something better to apply, in order to keep my job, i must inflict the pain a couple times a year. these are pigs that will be cut whether i am they are it is someone else. so at least i can do my best that they are treated as well as possible and that all involved on that sick day are respectful and understanding of what we are putting them thru.

and for the record, i feel strongly that pig castration is many times more painful and barbaric than disbudding. i think anyone that make the decision to castrate a pig should have to under go the same procedure first. then maybe things would be different

sorry for the rant and ramble
6/26/2010, 3:25 am Link to this post Send Email to heritage ranch   Send PM to heritage ranch
 
muladzh Profile
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Registered: 10-2008
Posts: 2068
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Re: swine castration :(


I feel for you - castration of swine is not a very nice thing to do - I am kind of soft hearted and could never do it. I applaud you for leaving your own swine intact.. emoticon

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6/26/2010, 11:57 pm Link to this post Send Email to muladzh   Send PM to muladzh Blog
 


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