Columbia Basin, Ephrata, WA | My dad only ever used side cutters to castrate. He did it when the pigs were maybe 5-7 days old. I usually wasn't around for that operation, mostly because I didn't want to be. What I remember was he'd sit on the front edge of the farrowing pens (that probably doesn't work in most farrowing houses, find something else to sit on) and hold the pig between his legs so one hand was free to squeeze things into place and one hand held the cutters. Two clips per side and they were done, and it didn't take more than a few seconds.
Wear earplugs, and if you cut more than a few pigs while your dog is around, make sure the dog stays outside that night in case he overindulges.
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Piglet Castration
