Something more humane than castration? What do you think?

[Suzie Laughlin]

We are watching "Dirty Jobs" with Mike Rowe. The segment on castrating a horse, sparked a discussion in my house, that I thought I would pass on to this group. I honestly after seeing this was sick to my stomach. I won't get into the gross details, but we in this house, all agree that there must be a more humane way to prevent unwanted horse pregnancies. My daughter brought up an interesting Idea...human males have vasectamies (sorry if spelled wrong), why can't they do that with horses and other male animals. I honestly think that there must be a way that it can be done for them. I know my Harley hates it when someone refers to him as "She" or tells him "good girl" HE'S A BOY! But looking at him from a distance or quick glance, you can't tell...they took his manood! So tell me what do you guys think, is castration cruel, wouldn't a vascetamy be more humane?

[JulieAnn Zserdin]

a vasectomy may be more humane, but the problem is that the people doing it would do it just as cruelly as they do the castration. With no pain killers. Castration isn't bad in self. It is the method that the humans use to castrate all animals. Watch one of the videos on how they castrate hogs and cows, totally cruel and disgusting. Watch how they do it to baby pigs as they scream in pain and not only castrate them but snip their ears also. Humans are simply inhumane when it comes to animals. The biggest problem to me is that laws need to be passed to force all factory farms to use humane methods in their dealings with animals.

[Lucy]

Hi Suzie!
I totally agree with u! Castration is cruel but is better than having unwanted strays on the streets that starve 2 death or get killed by cars. We have 2 think about the fact that castration is a surgery made while the pet is asleep and they use pain killers after so that they can handle the pain better.
I don't think people would use vasectomy on animals and the main reason 4 this is the money needed 4 research. Even so i don't know if it would be safer and less painful than the castration is. I think castration is the best alternative so far.

[Shaea]

I saw that show i thought it what awful and Mike deserved that stuff to go in his mouth! I felt so sorry for that horse

[Michele]

A vascectomy (I can't spell it either) may be an alternative. However, will it solve the testosterone problem? When I was young, I saw many female horses "raped" by male horses. Also, the neutering does improve the behavior and disposition of a male. A humane solution that has the benefits of castration would be ideal.

[Michele]

OH MY GOD!!! I just watched the you tube video in which the man is castrating a fully awake screaming piglet. I need to throw up. He should be punished by having the same thing done to him the same way. Absolutely horrible.

[Dixie]

Horses do not rape each other for one. Trust me when I say that if the mare isn't wanting it she'll let him know and that stud is in great danger. A mare can do a lot more damage to a stallion then visa versa. Stallions are stimulated by pheramones if they're not there they're not going to get on every mare they see. They may try or want to but they're not going to get anywhere if that mare doens't want it.
Secondly which is a reply to everything eveyone has said is that horse castration is humane. They are put under while the surgery is preformed. I have helped with alot of them and the horse recovers quickly. Sense none of you guys have stated what exactly is inhumane I have no idea what you could possibly be considering inhumane about it. It almost makes me feel like you guys are talking about what you do not know. You see a show that showcases it-don't like what you see and atomatically assume its crule

[Lani]

Well if they are actually using vets or medical proceedures to neuter pigs and goats thats a huge advancement! Before it was tie a rubber band around the boys and wait for them to fall off.

When they geld a horse he is put under, he is not wide awake. Also, the benifits of gelding/neutering males of any species are many. When you geld you eliminate the risk of testicular cancer (this is true in any species) and you lower the risk of prostate cancer. Also, Studs are dangerous. When they have thier boys (this is true weather they are attached to the plumming or not) they produce testosterone...A stud is very combative when there is reason to be, and they do not always associate that you are a human not a competitor. And 1000lbs+ can kill you instantly. Another benifit of gelding, they are more stable dispositioned and safer to ride...they will not get distracted by the smell of a pretty mare as you ride past (which if they want to go and do their thing, they may resort to rolling with you in the saddle). Another benifit, other than limiting the risk of more overpopulation is Studs that aren't allowed to breed or have no breeding prospects they tend to get sexually fustrated and then comes the self mutilization...that leads to massive vet bills.

[Lucy]

I also saw that movie on youtube and made me sick!!! I don’t know what was so funny about it after all! They shouldn’t show on tv this kind of things… Sick people!

[pistons58]

I think the best route is how we pet owners do it - the animal goes to the vet - has the clip-n-snip, is monitored and has access to pain meds afterwards. My 3 male cats are still intact, sorta. For their size they should be a bit bigger but no one has mixed them up for females. Altho - their personalities are affectionate and needy.
I wonder if a vasectomey would cure the possibility of spraying?
I completely understand the need to spay/neuter our pets but am an avid supporter of doing it in a humane, pain-free way.......no matter what the animal is.
Kathy

[Candace]

I watched that episode of dirty jobs and I thought it was pretty gross...BUT the horse was under and didn't feel anything. if you really watched it, the lady said that it helps them be more calm when ridden and such...There has to be a more humane way to deal with castrating animals but I guess if you think of it, it's a way of life. we may not like what these people do but I'm sure it's been like this for 100's of years

[Cindi Smith]

I'm a horse vet tech & I can tell you that IF you could do a vasectomy, you STILL have the male hormones intact. If you've ever been around a stallion (not a mare or a gelding-castrated male-) their attitudes can be dangerous in a herd. They will still fight other males, intact or not, & hurt the mares in trying to breed even when the mares are not in season. Not to mention when you are trying to train & handle a 900-1500 pound animal that's driven to breed. They will hurt you, other horses & anything else that will get in his way. We own 2 stallions & a jack (donkey). They live in seperate pastures well away from our mares. Both stallions have a goat as a companion & can still see the mares. They can't touch them from the fenceline. If they could, they would injure themselves trying to breed. That's how driven they are! They would hurt themselves to breed! This is why it is necessary to castrate, safety being the biggest issue of everyone around the horse. If you work with stallions, you have to know what you're doing! It can be dangerous! It is very rewarding IF you have stallion experience but not if you don't. I hope this helps. I've assisted with A LOT of castrations, they medicate the horse similar to what you have if a doctor was going to operate on you. They're sore for a while but have pain medication. There are people who castrate the "cowboy way" with no anesthesia, I think this is cruel but maybe not for my ex boyfriend.....If I did it that way, we might still be together (see comment on stallion attitudes! HaHa)

[Chantal Walters]

I am not surprised that your stallions are desperate to get to the mares if they are kept unnaturally separate. The fact is that this is not what nature intended, and as for hurting the mares while breeding?... only when humans intervene, and I´ve had a lifetime´s experience. Naturally, I agree with you that if you work with stallions you have to know what you are doing. But that does not justify in any way denying an animal it´s rights on account of our inability to cope with their nature.
Yes, vasectomies would be much kinder - allowing the animals to exercise their right to a sexual life - without necessarily breeding (although this is also their right). And as for the only reason why castration is done ´humanely´... well, let´s be honest here... there´d be fewer equine vets around!!