The Shasta courier., 1865-07-15
CastratiOn Of Calves and Colts.

Every farmer who raises domestic animals
ou ght 10 understand what effect castration OF
a Young male animal is likely to have on the
proper development of certain good points. as
well as what the effect will be on other points,
| if he is not castrated By performing TINS
operation at a certain period, or by delaying
| it for few months, or a year or more' ie
suits can be secured in developing goou
| form and symmetry in some animals "hion
never could be effected by any other means.
Take, for example. bull calf having iaree
head and neck, and deeper and heavier ior
ward than behind. in short, bull-shapeu IL
altered when only few weeks oid, as he
grows he will retain in measure tue saIie
| form. looking like a called stag. On the
contrary If castrated when only few days
old his hind quarters will be much better
deyeloped and his head. neck ana snoul'
ders will be in much better proportion to the
other parts of his body as an OK IS should be.
On the contrary. if bull calf be very broad
and heavy behind, and have cows head
and neck. castration should be deferred for
several months, in case he is to be raised for
the woke. 1t is Il we'll established rule. that
the earlier calf is castrated the better will
be the beef; while the longer he is allowed
to go. the coarser it will be, and often the
worse his form.
Farmers do not generally pay sufficient
regard to the fact that the time of geldng
the colt makes great difference in the
shape of the mature horse. The usual time
is when the colts are year cd, with, ut
reference to their points There are at least
some views, in which all good horsemen
agree, as to the effects on the development
of certain poirts of the colt, as we'll as on his
disposition. In some special cases the cas-
tration of colts should be deferred until they
are three years old while others should be
gelded at that particular period in their
growth, which will favor the more perfect
development of certain points of form and
symmetry. This occurs sometimes at the
age OF few months. year. two years, or
more. 1t squite difficult to lay down prac.
teal directions on this point. To be able to
decide when colt should be castrated,
requires observation on the subject for many
years.
Gelding renders colts heavier behind, and
narrower and lighter forward. When colt
is 50 fearless and wilful that there are fears
of his becoming vicious, immediate castra-
tior will check the further development of
such disposition. When a colt is very mar
row across the breast, and has a small neck
and head, unless he manifest very refrac-
tory disposition, it may be we'll to defer
geding until he is even three years old. in
order to improve his form and style. Colts
usually make faster travellers for short dis
tances, if geded when not more than year
old, than if it he deferred but their pow
ers of endurance are less. Stations that
have been kept for service for several years.
and then altered. are rendered much slower
in gait and those that were difficult to
manage, are usually rendered much more
tractable. Entire horses are usually fear
less, and not apt t) be shy at rustling
sounds or strange objects but colts that are
celded very young, if their dams shy at
unfamiliar objects, will be liable to lack
courage, and be always ready to sheer off at
the sight of black stumps and such things,
or to run away whenever any part of the
harness or carriage becomes deranged,
which tendency can rarely be counteracted,
excent by the most careful aud patient
training. Colts should never be castrated
when poor or sickly, nor in stormy weather,
except they are kept in comfortable stable
until they are entir ly healed. as danger of
Inflammation arises from being exposed TO
cold storms and chilling winds. Farmers
cannot be too careful in keeping horses.
after castraton, in warm stables.-American
4gricuttuTist.