Small ruminant castration

For castration, small ruminants are essentially small calves. The same techniques apply

• surgical
  • blade to open the scrotum with testicle removal by traction, emasculator, or ligature

• bloodless
  • Bander/rubber bands – common method; may be inhumane in older goat kids as it causes more inflammation over a longer period of time
  • Burdizzos- stagger crushes to avoid the same issues seen with banders
  • Callicrate bander – for older goats
  • Short scrotum method – the scrotum is banded below the testicles, leaving the testicles in place but pushed close to the body so that the body heat kills the sperm; avoid in older animals.

Goats are very sensitive to pain so it is essential to provide sedation and analgesia. Goats are also very sensitive to lidocaine. A maximum dose of 4 mg/kg is recommended. The lidocaine can be diluted to make the small volume go further; this does result in a shorter duration of action. Hint : Lidocaine is 2% or 20 mg/ml. Preoperative NSAID options include flunixin meglumine iv or meloxicam orally. Sedative options include xylazine or detomidine (careful with xylazine dosing and avoid these drugs in sheep) or  diazepam/ketamine or midazolam/ketamine.

Goats are also prone to tetanus so should receive tetanus vaccination.

Many goats are disbudded and castrated in the first week of life. Pet goats may benefit from later castration and more growth prior to castration, particularly in case it helps maximize urethral diameter and lowers the risk of obstructive urolithiasis.

How to castrate a goat

Small Ruminant Castration Guide – includes other resources

The short scrotum method of castration in lambs

Caudal paramedian approach to cryptorchidectomy in 29 small ruminants (2011-2019). Veterinary Surgery. 2021;50:170–176.