These two animals, when destined for slaughter, are usually castrated either at birth or at latest two or three months afterwards. In Normandy, in Franche-Comté, and in England breeders castrate young bulls by torsion of the cord.
Two incisions about 1¼ to 1¾ inches in length are made on the lower extremity of the scrotum. The testicles are enucleated and the testicular cords seized with two pressure clamps, with which torsion is effected. In the South of France, in Auvergne, and in the Limousin, bulls intended for working are not castrated until after the lapse of some months, on account of the influence which the testicles have on the development of the bones and muscles. Such animals are only operated on at the age of from six months to a year, and as a rule the method employed is that of bistournage.
BISTOURNAGE.
This method of castration has been practised from time immemorial. It consists essentially of torsion of the testicular cord, and aims at obliterating the vessels which it contains, and thus bringing about atrophy of the organs served by them.
The Bull.—The animal is operated on in the standing position. The head is fixed to a post or ring somewhat high up, in order to check movement of the hind legs. The hind legs are also partially secured by means of ropes or two pieces of webbing passed in a running noose about the hocks and fixed above the knee. No preliminary disinfection is practised, because no wound is made.
Fig. 309.—Bistournage. First phase. Manipulating the scrotum.
Manual Technique. The operation comprises four stages:
Fig. 310.—Bistournage. First phase. Thrusting the testicles upwards; manipulating the scrotum.