Calling All Sheep Farmers. Castration/docking Method Do You Use?

[Dreamsandlove]

So... just out of curiosity, what method do you use for sheep castration?

Elastication or Surgical? And what are your reasons for the method you use. Also...for your methods used do you give pain relief while doing so?

[RATTER15]

just2retro, "Docking tails is done to all lambs" on moving to Wales 3 years ago, I noticed that they don't actually dock the tails on lambs here, due to the colder winters apparently.

[just2retro]

RATTER 'except Swaledales' They don't dock Swaledales for the same reason. We rent some of our land to a sheep farmer -he has Swaledales and some breed he calls 'Mules' (they are sheep not horses) ! The Mule lambs he docks the Swaledales he doesn't. I sometimes find little shriveled tails in the field still with the rubber bands on -yuk!

[tamborine]

Lamb for table is usually male. Female being kept to breed on. Mutton is old females past their prime.