Castrating Question

[drdoolittle]

I was wondering what the best time for castrating is. Is it as soon after birth as possible? My husband said a friend of his who used to raise farm hogs told him that you should wait until they are at least a week old. I have several newborn piglets (don't know how many of them are males yet) and 2 3-week-old males. Can I still castrate the 3-week-olds? One is sold already to be a pet, and I think the other would sell more quickly if castrated. Besides, they would be better pets.

 

[jhm47]

In my opinion, anytime from 3 days to 4 weeks is the optimum time. I liked to wait till they were nursing well and able to get under the heat lamps before I castrated them. The longer you wait the harder it is on you and the pigs. They can be quite a handful to hold if you wait too long.

 

[drdoolittle]

Thanks so much for the advice----not looking forward to it, but at least I only have 4 to do (2 from the 3-week-old litter and 2 from the ones born last night).

 

[Royd Wood]

The last lot we did at 2 weeks old - as JHM says the sooner the better