How to PROPERLY Castrate A Baby Pig

Being raised on a commercial hog farm, I have castrated many baby pigs since the time I was 16 yrs old.
If you'd like to be able to do this yourself with your litter of piglets, here's the instructions:

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 - 5 day old piglet
• Sterile scalpel
• Iodine
• Blue Coat Spray or Antibiotic powder

1. When your piglets are between 3 and 5 days old, separate them from the sow. The piglets will squeal when castrated, which can cause the sow to go nuts. This can be a dangerous situation if your sow is not properly confined or would be able to inadvertently injure her remaining piglets your not working on.

2. If working alone, I have found that tying the baby piglet securely by the bag legs by tying a knot at one leg with one end of the rope (about 2' section of rope) and then tie the other leg with the other end of the rope so that you're able to then 'hang' the piglet by some type of coat hook or similar item on a wall.
   
   If you have a partner, have them hold the piglet - spread eagle - with the piglet's back facing you.

3. Swap the piglets groin area with iodine to prevent infection once you begin cutting.

4. With your (sterile or latex gloved) hands, feel around for the piglets testicles. These will not be exposed testicles like in other animals or humans. The piglet's testicles will be internal but you should still be able to feel them. Try pushing in an upwards motion with your thumb.

5. Make a very small cut over the top of testicle #1. The smaller the hole, the quicker the recovery. Don't just make one deep cut. Remembering that there are many layers to the skin, cut swiftly but gently, making a cut in each layer until you're able to pop out the little testicle.

6. Once you have the testicle out of the hole you've cut, grasp it with your forefinger and thumb and pull. It seems mean but this is why you do this procedure at such a young age. This cord is very weak and will break easily. Remember to PULL the cord... do NOT cut it! If it's not breaking, as you hold and pull between your forefinger and thumb, scrape the cord with your thumb nail. This is not a clean cut so will not cause the damage that cutting would cause.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for testicle #2

8. Spray cut areas with Blue Coat spray (sold at your local farm supply stores). You could opt to use a powdered antibiotic instead if you like.

9. Put piglet back with sow.
   No stitches, you want it to be able to drain.
   It will heal quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Do this procedure during the cooler mornings and avoid doing this during peak fly times. The blue coat will help greatly in preventing flies from entering wound but monitor very closely if any flies are about.
• Make your cuts as low as possible and in a vertical line to make drainage easier.
• You'll discover when doing this on 3-5 day old piglets that the screaming directly relates to being held and not the actual castration process. They will settle down immediately upon being given back to mama.
• While I feel I've outlined this process accurately, I HIGHLY recommend you have someone experienced in castrating pigs supervise you're first castration.
• Keep piglets floor very, very clean to prevent infections
• If piglet scours before wound is healed, consult your vet to clear it up. I don't remember this ever happening to me but due to the location of the cut, you need to be aware and ready.

Resources

• Ironwood Kennel - Author's Redbone and English Coonhounds

[KonaGirl]

on 11/19/2007 I grew up in the islands of Hawaii. My family raised domestic pigs and some cross breed(wild boar & domestic)My uncles & cousins were wild boar hunters.

Sorry Melissa, but Showpup is right. Castrating at birth is the human way, just as circumcision on male humans at birth is the human way. Of course you will get arguments on circumcision too, however, if it is the choice, it is more human at birth. Less painful and quicker healing.

Believe me, if you are one that eats pork, I am not a pork eater any more, this is the correct procedure for farm raised pork. Selective breeding is what constitutes the leaner pork that you are now buying at the market and putting on your table. Sorry, but it is true.

[diggitydogg]

on 11/13/2007 I agree, pasture raising is much more humane than factory farms. However, some view castrating a pig just so their meat tastes better inhumane. You consider PETA evil as you ranted on one of my articles, as I'm sure they feel the same about one who castrates pigs. It's all the way you look at it.

[showpup]

on 11/8/2007 Castrating baby pigs is not cruel or pointless. If you are raising pigs for pork, you can not raise them as intact boars... the meat will taste HORRID. Even hanging a boar carcass near other pork will soil ALL meat by the odor alone. It also cuts down on aggression and unwanted breeding when pasture raising your pigs (more humane than pens, yes?) Some people should be raised to know where their meat comes from...

[diggitydogg]

on 10/31/2007 Some people are raised to do things that are cruel and pointless and then grow up to know better.

[knewf]

on 10/30/2007 good article and very informative