367. Calves have traditionally been castrated to control indiscriminate breeding and sexual characteristics such as aggressiveness. In the dairy herd, calves kept for further fattening are usually left entire but, in some cases, calves are castrated before being sold or reared.
368. The three methods used to castrate calves in the UK are:
369. We conclude that, irrespective of the age of the calf, all three methods of castration appear to cause acute pain. However, recent reports of experimental work 6 suggest that the burdizzo results in fewer complications at the site of castration and the lowest overall responses to acute pain in terms of plasma cortisol and behaviour.
6. Kent, J E et al (1996). Castration of calves: a Study of Methods used by Farmers in the United Kingdom; Veterinary Record 138, 384-387.
370. Calf castration is an undesirable mutilation which should be avoided if at all possible. It should only be carried out to avoid worse welfare problems.
371. We endorse the existing legislation which states that calves over two months of age must be castrated only by a veterinary surgeon using an anaesthetic.
372. As soon as a satisfactory and practical way of producing analgesia, or administering an anaesthetic without the necessity of injecting it via a syringe and needle, becomes available it must be adopted for use on calves of any age before castration.
373. Non-veterinarians should be suitably trained and competent before carrying out castration.