Response to Tetanus shots for Lambs--Docking & Castrating

Jonathan, just a thought on castrating -- I agree with Rebekah that the knife is best, as long as the flies aren't bad yet. We used a new single-edged razor blade, though -- much sharper. And then used the iodine solution on them that we'd used for the umbilical cords after they were born. We were a little squeamish, too, the first time, but it really isn't bad, and the lambs didn't seem to suffer after we let them up. Haven't tried Rocky Mountain Oysters yet, though!! The tails can also be done with a knife, if you push the skin up towards the body so it will come back down and cover the wound when you are done. Again, use a disinfectant on it, and try to do it before fly season. I think this is better than having the dying tails hanging off the lamb for a couple of weeks.

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