band or castrate?

[Cattle Rack Rancher]

Since we're on the subject, any advice on how old is too old to clip 'em? I was taught if ya do it after 1 year the risk of complication goes WAY up.

Mike Bishop - http://www.flbullrider.com

I don't know about the risk but they're quite a bit harder to hold after one year. We've done a couple that we intended to keep as bulls because they just weren't looking that good. Hard to hold.
In our area, it seems the buyers prefer to have them banded. I did an experiment last year and banded some calves at about a month old and castrated the others at about six months. The difference I lost in weight gain was more than made up by the increase in price per pound so this year I'm banding everything.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I have been told you can band short yearling bulls, and then cut the sac off and apply pine tar after one week.

Any experience with this approach? :?:

 

[SF]

I have been told you can band short yearling bulls, and then cut the sac off and apply pine tar after one week.

Any experience with this approach? :?:

You can band them at any age you can get their scrotum through the band. You will need an EZE Castrator Kit Model T-1. You can get it through valley vet or at http://www.castrator.com. They use small aluminum clips to tighten the band down. Need to wait about 10 to 14 days to cut the sac off. I don't bother with the pine tar. Since you are waiting for them to get older, just schedule this procedure during a time of year when flies are at a minimum.

I use this this procedure quite a bit. Will probably be using on at least half of my bull calves this year. I usually look to castrate them between 6 months and 1 year.

 

[flaboy]

Since we're on the subject, any advice on how old is too old to clip 'em? I was taught if ya do it after 1 year the risk of complication goes WAY up.

Mike Bishop - http://www.flbullrider.com

I have had horses cut as old as 8 years old. I had the vet do it though. I supect you can do the same with a bull. The vet puts them down, does his thing, sews them up, and your off to the races.

I personally wouldn't do anything over a year old.