Castration tool
Burdizzo Castration Clamp
Castration by crushing the cord
What it is
Heavy metal jaws close over each spermatic cord and crush it through unbroken skin. The blood supply is cut off and the testis withers.
Where it sits in the system
Castration lets farms control breeding, blunt male behaviour, shape the carcass, and keep males and females in the same group. The clamp leaves no open wound, which is why it is chosen over cutting.
Welfare concern
Crushing the cord causes acute pain, swelling, and an inflammatory response that lasts well beyond the moment of the procedure. A misplaced clamp can leave the castration incomplete, or mean the animal is clamped a second time.
Worth being precise about
Age, operator skill, pain relief, and infection control all change how bad this is, and whether the animal needs castrating at all is a separate question. 'Bloodless' describes the skin, not the pain.
