In a recent poll, Progressive Cattleman asked, “What method do you prefer for castrating calves?”

Only 6.4 percent said that they use a knife to castrate weaned calves. Around 10 percent said that they use bands on weaned calves.

Many readers, about 35 percent, prefer to use a knife to castrate young calves. However, most Progressive Cattleman online readers (42.8 percent) use bands as their preferred method to castrate young calves.

However, there are a few producers (5.4 percent) who don’t castrate their calves.  

What method do you prefer for castrating calves?

• Knife cut young calves: 35.3%

• Band on young calves: 42.8%

• Knife cut weaned calves: 6.4%

• Band on weaned calves: 10.2%

• We don’t castrate: 5.4%