He Made His Own Castrator

He Made His Own Castrator LIVESTOCK Health 29-3-10 A modified piece of steel pipe can make castration with elastrators a simple affair, says Lloyd Baughman. Baughman has used the design for many years, not only for castration of lambs and calves, but also for docking lamb tails. "You can pick the size pipe that fits the animal," he says. "It makes it easy to apply the rubber bands." For lambs, Baughman suggests starting with a pipe about 1 1/2-in. dia. and about 6-in. long. Notch out about half the diameter of the pipe at a point about 3/4 to 1 in. from one end. The size of the notch may vary depending on whether it is to be used for calves or lambs. Baughman recommends about 2 in. for lambs. After cutting the notch out, start from the other end of the pipe and cut through the pipe wall to within an inch of the notch. Crimp the pipe to a point at the end and weld the seam. "The cone shape end makes it easy to slide elastic bands to the working end of the pipe," explains Baughman. "The 3/4-in. space between the pipe end and the notch leaves room for 6 or 7 bands." He loads the pipe with rubber bands and then slides the pipe over the scrotum or over the tail. He is then able to grasp the scrotum or tail through the notch and pull tight with two fingers and push an elastic band off, tight against the body cavity. Using the pipe helps ensure that a testicle doesn't slip above the elastrator band. "As one band is released, just roll another forward, and it's ready for the next application," says Baughman. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lloyd Baughman, #9-5238 50 St., Olds, Alberta, Canada T4M 1N7 (ph 403 556-0288).

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