[Sca-cooks] Castration WAS Dutch Recipes

[Robin Carroll-Mann]

Jadwiga Zajaczkowa / Jenne Heise wrote:

>I guess I don't know all that much about period methods of 
>neutering rams. Nowadays an elastic band is used around the testicles, 
>so the penis wouldn't be removed until slaughtering.
>  
>
Okay, all of you squeamish guys, hit delete now.


I mean it.



Right.  Don't say I didn't warn you.


The 1551 edition of the "Book of Agriculture" by Gabriel Alonso de 
Herrera has animal husbandry information.  The section on sheep refers 
the reader to the earlier section on goats, since the castration 
procedure is the same.  It's a long passage, so I'm going to summarize 
and paraphrase what I've read, since I really don't want to take the 
time to transcribe and translate.

http://alfama.sim.ucm.es/dioscorides/consulta_libro.asp?ref=X533701960
The section on castration begins with image # 319.

Kid goats should be castrated under the age of one year, and the earlier 
it is done, the better they will tolerate it, and the better the meat 
will be.  Castration should be done when the temperature is moderate; 
neither very hot or very cold.  Kids born in September should be 
castrated in March.  Those born in December should be castrated in April 
or May, before it gets hot.  Those born in March should be castrated at 
the end of September, or in October.

The animals should not be allowed to eat or drink before castration.  
There are several methods for castration.  The first is to use a cord to 
tie the scrotum.  This, Herrera says, is the least painful method.  
[note: I gather, from some casual Web research that a similar method is 
used today, though with elastic.  Apparently, the scrotum dies from lack 
of blood and falls off in a couple of weeks.]  The second method is to 
tie off the scrotum with a cord, open the scrotum and cut out the 
testicles.   This makes better meat, very tender.  A nerve is taken out 
with them.  This way, you remove all of the lust and aggression.

Others crush them [ie., the testicles] with something, and this is very 
painful.  And others cut off the scrotum, having first tied it firmly 
with a cord as said before.  It can be cauterized with a hot iron, and 
anointed with cow's butter.

Castration is best done in the morning, when the animals won't have had 
food or water.  They should not be given food or drink that day.  They 
shouldn't be allowed to walk around much that day, and should be kept in 
a corral or stable.

--- end paraphrased text --

Okay, guys.  You can come out now.

-- 
Lady Brighid ni Chiarain
Barony of Settmour Swamp, East Kingdom
Robin Carroll-Mann *** rcmann4 at earthlink.net