Castration of Ruptured Pigs

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 4, 16 October 1950, Page 360

Castration of Ruptured Pigs

SCROTAL rupture in pigs is not uncommon and presents a problem in castrating these pigs. It can, however, be overcome quite easily, and in this article, prepared by the Livestock Division, the method that should be employed is explained.

AS the occurrence of scrotal rupture in pigs is hereditary, undoubtedly the best way of dealing with it is to dispose of the particular breeding stock that is responsible and to avoid that strain in future. The allocating of the blame is not difficult; before the defect can show up both parents must carry the defect in their hereditary make-up. This does not necessarily mean that they must be disposed of forthwith, although obviously this must be considered and in no case should stock from either of the parents be kept for breeding. If ruptures occur in the litters of only one sow, commercial producers, all of whose pigs are being sold as fats, need only dispose of the sow. At the same time the boar should be marked for replacement at a convenient time by one from a different strain. Where several sows have shown the defect the boar should be changed immediately and sows when it is convenient. Replacement sows should be saved only from a sow whose litters have never shown signs of ruptures. However, there remains the question of what to do when a litter contains several ruptured pigs, which is not uncommon. Each one of these pigs is a potential baconer, and if, by exercising a little care, they can be castrated successfully, and in many cases even the rupture cured, it is surely worth while. There are several methods of castrating ruptured pigs, but the one to be described is probably the most satisfactory for reasons that will be apparent. How Rupture Occurs First, it is necessary to understand what a rupture is. Normally the testicles move down into the scrotum, or purse, . some time before birth. Previous to this they have developed inside the abdominal cavity.. When they move into the scrotum they carry with them a portion of the peritoneum, or lining of the abdominal cavity, which forms the inner skin of the scrotum; this is called the tunica vaginalis, and all pig breeders are familiar with it. The opening in the muscular wall of the abdomen through which the testicles come down normally closes up. With a rupture, however, the closing up does not take place or is only partial. There is generally very little external sign of the rupture when the pig is bom, but it becomes apparent within periods varying from a few hours to as much as 2 or 3 weeks, the variation apparently being due to the extent of the closing up of the aperture in the muscular wall of the abdomen. The rupture is a portion of the small intestine intruding through the unclosed aperture into the scrotum, where it is present with the testicle. In normal castration the inner skin can be cut through safely, but where there is a rupture and this skin is cut

there will be a direct opening into the abdominal cavity. The following steps should be taken to prevent this occurring. Castration Procedure The pig should, if possible, be starved for some hours before the operation and no solid food should be given for 24 hours before it. Pigs should be operated on when not more than 3 weeks old. The animal must be held securely by an assistant, who should hold it head downward by the hind legs, securing the head between his knees. Before any incision is made the parts affected must be carefully washed in a reliable disinfectant, as should the hands of the operator; a solution of condy’s crystals is quite satisfactory. The knife blade should be flamed. After the site of the operation has been washed it is a good practice to swab it with methylated spirits or tincture of iodine. Then by manipulation with the fingers the rupture should be replaced in the abdomen and held in position by pressure applied by the second, third, and fourth fingers of the left hand. The testicle is held between the first finger and thumb of this same hand. An incision is then made in the normal position; that is, low enough to allow of free drainage of the wound. In making this incision great care should be taken not to cut the inner skin, which should be carefully separated from the wall of the scrotum, to which it is attached by connective tissue. Tying the Cord The testicle, still within the inner skin, which surrounds both the testicle and the cord, is then drawn out of the scrotum. A tie is made round the cord as low down as is possible. The best material for tying the cord is suture silk or strong linen thread or a narrow piece of tape about 12in. long which has been boiled and then kept soaked in a solution of condy’s crystals; on no account should an irritant disinfectant be used. The best knot to use is that known as a clove hitch or surgeon’s tie. This tie prevents any portion of the small intestine from coming out and allows the opening into the abdominal cavity to repair by growth of new tissues. When the tie has been completed the pressure applied by the fingers of the left hand can be released and the cord can be severed to remove the testicle, leaving about gin. below the tie. After this has been done the ends of the thread or tape are shortened so that a small piece will hang down from the wound; this keeps the wound open for drainage until the tape and the portion of cord left as a block to prevent the tape slipping off have sloughed away. In operating, the side on which the rupture occurs (double rupture is not

common) should be dealt with first. After this has been done the remaining testicle is removed in the ordinary way and the wounds dressed with a suitable ' dressing. Sulphanilamide ointment, obtainable from any veterinary club, is suitable. Advantages of Method The advantages of this method are that it definitely prevents infection from gaining access to the abdominal cavity, it allows for free drainage of the wound, thus preventing the formation of an abscess, and in many cases, where the rupture is not too far advanced, it actually cures the rupture. The method involving the removal of both testicles through one opening on the side other than that on which the rupture is situated is not advised,, because frequently an abscess forms in the scrotum, owing to lack of drainage, and this leads either to the rejection of the carcass for export or to its condemnation for peritonitis, if the pig survives to reach the works. The same criticism applies to making the incision high up on the scrotum and then stitching it up. The last two. methods have been used occasionally with success, but the method recommended, if carried out carefully (and. this precaution applies to the castration of any animal) gives e verychance of securing complete success. Navel Ruptures Navel ruptures sometimes occur, but they do not interfere with castration, ana, provided the rupture does not. strangulate, the animal usually can be fattened successfully, at least to porker weight. In the normal process of dressing the carcass the rupture is removed without blemishing the carcass. In rare cases ruptures occur in the scrotal position in sows. The treatment of this and of the navel rupture, both of which involve the stitching, up of the muscular wall of the abdomen, would have to be done by a. veterinary surgeon. Because of the expense involved these cases are better left unless the value of the animal justifies it. Bulletin Available Full details on castration of pigs areincluded in Bulletin No. 230, which is. available free from the nearest officeof the Department of Agriculture.

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