Yesterday, I went to my local TSC (Tractor Supply) store and looked longingly at the banding tool. Price is up somewhat to $23 now. It comes with 3 or 4 bands. Extra bands cost about $2.50 for 100. I almost bought the tool and the extra bands, but decided that it wouldn't serve my purpose anyway.

Over on the magazine and book rack were several pamplets on raising cattle and sheep. A quick check of the indexes found several references to castration. The cattle book had the most detail, as it described three methods. The knife castration was the one most highly recommended, with the Burdizzo and the bander following in that order. It seems that the Burdizzo has a high failure rate in animals also.

A lengthy tutorial on the knife method followed. I didn't buy the book so I can only summarize what it said: Force the young calf onto its side and tie the legs so that they offer easy access to the genitals. Then grasp the scrotum and push the testicles down until they are tight against the underside of the calf's body. Use the knife to cut off the outer end of the scrotum, making a large hole. Then pull the testicles down through the hole, exposing them completely. With your hand, tug firmly on each testicle in turn, stretching the cords until they break and the testicle comes free. Do not cut the cords with the knife as there might be excessive bleeding, but stretching them will shut off the arteries and veins and minimise the risk of blood loss. Then apologise to the calf and release it to go back to its mother.

Please note that they are talking about 10-day old calves, not adult humans! It all sounds a bit brutal, however, but the book says that this is the best method.

I'm tempted to try slitting my scrotum and yanking hard twice, but I doubt that would be a wise move....

Yoli here,

Before I post some sad news in the Deep Dark, etc...

I love to browse in stores that sell high-end kitchen stuff. Sometimes I spot some ridiculously expensive bit of cutlery and pick it up. Almost every time I do so I mentally grade it's suitability for use as a castration or maybe even peepee-removal tool.

When I'm in one of my favorite hunting/fishing gear emporia I always wander over to the knives section and spend a moment with one special model made by Gerber...The Gerber Gelder! I own one but I still pause to savor the name on the little placard in the display case. The knife is displayed on a little cradle, blade deployed, under nice lighting, and at eye level. Wow!

I've been known to get a bit tingly and moist in my >^..^< if I spend more than maybe three minutes gazing at that knife and if I allow a certain fantasy to invade my mind.

Oh, Yoli, thou art one twisted girlpuppy!

Love to all,

Yoli

FianceeUvBigGuy (imported) wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:40 pm Yoli here,

Before I post some sad news in the Deep Dark, etc...

I love to browse in stores that sell high-end kitchen stuff. Sometimes I spot some ridiculously expensive bit of cutlery and pick it up. Almost every time I do so I mentally grade it's suitability for use as a castration or maybe even peepee-removal tool.

When I'm in one of my favorite hunting/fishing gear emporia I always wander over to the knives section and spend a moment with one special model made by Gerber...The Gerber Gelder! I own one but I still pause to savor the name on the little placard in the display case. The knife is displayed on a little cradle, blade deployed, under nice lighting, and at eye level. Wow!

I've been known to get a bit tingly and moist in my >^..^< if I spend more than maybe three minutes gazing at that knife and if I allow a certain fantasy to invade my mind.

Oh, Yoli, thou art one twisted girlpuppy!

Love to all,

Yoli

....I thought Gerber were the people with the baby food.

chilli-

FianceeUvBigGuy (imported) wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:40 pm Yoli here,

Before I post some sad news in the Deep Dark, etc...

I love to browse in stores that sell high-end kitchen stuff. Sometimes I spot some ridiculously expensive bit of cutlery and pick it up. Almost every time I do so I mentally grade it's suitability for use as a castration or maybe even peepee-removal tool.

When I'm in one of my favorite hunting/fishing gear emporia I always wander over to the knives section and spend a moment with one special model made by Gerber...The Gerber Gelder! I own one but I still pause to savor the name on the little placard in the display case. The knife is displayed on a little cradle, blade deployed, under nice lighting, and at eye level. Wow!

I've been known to get a bit tingly and moist in my >^..^< if I spend more than maybe three minutes gazing at that knife and if I allow a certain fantasy to invade my mind.

Oh, Yoli, thou art one twisted girlpuppy!

Love to all,

Yoli

Now if only you could get us a picture of the knife in question.

FianceeUvBigGuy (imported) wrote: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:40 pm Yoli here,

Before I post some sad news in the Deep Dark, etc...

I love to browse in stores that sell high-end kitchen stuff. Sometimes I spot some ridiculously expensive bit of cutlery and pick it up. Almost every time I do so I mentally grade it's suitability for use as a castration or maybe even peepee-removal tool.

When I'm in one of my favorite hunting/fishing gear emporia I always wander over to the knives section and spend a moment with one special model made by Gerber...The Gerber Gelder! I own one but I still pause to savor the name on the little placard in the display case. The knife is displayed on a little cradle, blade deployed, under nice lighting, and at eye level. Wow!

I've been known to get a bit tingly and moist in my >^..^< if I spend more than maybe three minutes gazing at that knife and if I allow a certain fantasy to invade my mind.

Oh, Yoli, thou art one twisted girlpuppy!

Love to all,

Yoli

I'll have to check that one out the next time I visit Cabela's. I want one for Christmas!

Yoli here,

I went to the Gerber website and could not find the Gelder listed. It's a folding knife, with two blades, normally carried by ranchers and the like. Most such knives are called "Stockman's Knife" so that makes sense.

It may be that the thing was never officially named "Gelder" but was tagged as that by users and the name stuck. It was certainly on the little tag in the display. I'm assuming it's either out of production OR simply mis-named by we peasants.

If they ARE no longer made I will try to buy the one I saw unless the shop owner keeps it as part of a collection. Come to think of it, there was no price shown.

It's really a rather work-a-day knife, not at all fancy.

The one I have was given me by one of the ranch hands and HE told me what it was called. Of course, I just HAD to accept.

Yoli