Treating castration wounds

The practice of castration is very old. Castration checks unwanted breeding, prepares young male animals for draft work, fattens males for good meat production and makes the animal docile. Farmers castrate their animals using various methods. In the Philippines and in Sri Lanka, some farmers use a sterilized blade and two long forceps.

Treating castration wounds

Antiseptics to prevent infection

After castration, apply any of the following remedies:

· Wash the wound with water boiled with guava leaves that has been allowed to cool. Do this for 3 consecutive days. (Philippines. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

· Chop and pound 1 to 3 mature, fresh banana leaves (depending on how big the wound is). Extract the latex by straining the chopped leaves through a clean cloth or gauze. Apply latex on the wound after the animal's wash in the early morning and the evening. Do this every day until the wound heals. (Philippines. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

· Apply 2 handfuls of hot, cooked rice to the wound. This will stop bleeding. (Philippines. 1, 2, 3, 4)

· Mix 1 part brown sugar and 1 part coconut oil and apply on the wound. (Cambodia. 1, 2)

· Mix 1 part lime (calcium hydroxide) powder and 1 part brown sugar and apply to the wound. (Cambodia. 1, 2)

If swelling occurs

· Splash 2-3 cups clean, cold water on the swollen part 23 times a day. (India. 1, 2, 3, 4)

· Pound dry turmeric (Curcuma domestica) rhizome with water to make a paste. Apply on the wound till the wound heals. (India, Philippines. 1, 2)

· Crush 5-10 comfrey (Symphytum officinale) leaves. Apply to the wound. (Philippines. 1, 2, 3, 4)

· Boil a handful of neem or guava leaves in 1 liter of water for about 15 minutes. Let cool down and sprinkle on and around the wound. (India, Philippines. 1, 2, 3, 4)