Acute cortisol responses and wound healing in lambs after ring castration plus docking with or without application of a castration clamp to the scrotum.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether the cortisol response to ring castration plus docking is reduced by additional application of a castration clamp across the full width of the scrotum distal to the ring.


METHODS
A physiological study with controls.


METHODS
Lambs, 3 to 6 weeks of age, were castrated using a ring or ring plus castration clamp applied for 6 or 10 s and docked using a ring. Blood samples were taken before and regularly for about 4 h after treatment and analysed for plasma cortisol concentrations. The healing of the scrotal wounds was monitored for 6 weeks after castration.


RESULTS
The plasma cortisol concentrations were lower only at 60 min after treatment in lambs castrated with a clamp placed on the scrotum for 10 s after ring castration and docking than in lambs castrated and docked by ring alone. Scrotal wounds healed more quickly after ring plus clamp than after ring only castration.


CONCLUSIONS
The castration clamp had at most a marginal effect on the cortisol response to ring castration and docking of 3- to 6-week-old lambs, but it did seem to improve the rate of healing.
Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
M A
MA
Sutherland
K J
KJ
Stafford
D J
DJ
Mellor
N G
NG
Gregory
R A
RA
Bruce
R N
RN
Ward
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000662:veterinary*; D013623:Tail / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D006854:Hydrocortisone