Animal Health & Welfare

Castration of lambs may be appropriate to prevent indiscriminate breeding, produce more manageable groups of sheep or alter carcass characteristics (fatter lambs). However, as these reasons are only valid when lambs are kept past puberty for slaughter in the autumn or winter, castration is not recommended as a routine procedure - see the Scottish Government Welfare Codes for Sheep (link on the right).

SAC has also produced a technical note providing advice on the management of entire male lambs and outlining the benefits of their production - see the link to the right. 

In addition to the pain and stress involved with the castration procedure itself, gathering and restraining sheep is also likely to be stressful.  Due to the risk of mismothering involved with gathering large groups of sheep, castration should not be performed until the ewe-lamb bond has been established.  However, the rubber ring method of castration may only be used without anaesthetic during the first week of life. 

Methods

The three main methods of castration currently practised in Great Britain are elastration or rubber ringing, emasculation by a bloodless castrator and surgical or open castration. Whichever method is used, only fit and healthy lambs should be castrated. Additionally, castration should never be carried out in bad weather.

1. Rubber Ring (RR) which causes scrotal necrosis and eventual shedding of the structures including the testes

2. Emasculator (e.g. Burdizzo clamp or Richey Nipper) which crushes the spermatic cord and causes irreversible damage to the vessels supplying the scrotum

3. Open or surgical method, where the scrotum is cut to reveal the testes which are removed by tearing, cutting or twisting

For more information on these methods and a comparison of their impacts on animal welfare, use the links on the menu bar to the left.

These procedures have a profound effect on the animal's behaviour including increased rates of kicking, rolling, restlessness, foot stamping and abnormal postures. These behaviours indicate possible pain (Molony and Kent, 1997) and it has been shown that the application of local anaesthetic may reduce the associated suffering (Molony and Kent, 1997). As a result, castration is a procedure that is governed by the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954, as amended. For an overview of the legislation, use the 'Castration Laws' tab in the menu to the left.