Casting Of Animals
Casting of animals refers to the controlled throwing of an animal on the ground by exerting a pressure on its muscle and nerves with the help of casting ropes.
It becomes necessary to cast the animal on ground for various purposes like Surgery, Shoeing, Branding, Hoof cutting,Vaccinating, Tagging, castration and During the assistance to Calving.
Many people confuse on the difference between restraining and casting of cattle and buffaloes. Some differences between these two terminologies are:-
➡️Casting means throwing or lying animals on ground while Restraining means holding the animal in a fixed position in order to perform different management practices in Animal.
➡️ Casting involves the whole animal body controlled by lying it on ground while there may or may not be whole body controlled in restraining. Some part of cattle and buffalo such as leg or head can be restrained.
➡️ In simple word, Casting of animal is a type of Restraining.
Methods Of Casting Animals(Cattle And Buffalo)
There are different ways of casting an animal. Different techniques have their own pros and cons. However, The most common methods of casting animals are explained below:-
1. Reuff’s Method Of Casting
Reuff’s method of casting cattle and buffalo is one of the famous method which is used by many professionals.
In this method, We need a 10m long nylon rope and 3 people. Then, the process of casting animals starts:-
Step 1:- First animal should be separated from herd. Then, It should be taken to area of casting.
Step 2:- The area where animal is to be thrown should be made clean. If possible we can lay soft material for the minimisation of stress to animals.
Step 3:- The head of the cattle should be hold with halter. It can be tied in a pole making it closer to the ground so that I doesn’t create pressure on cattle neck while casting.
Step 4:- One end of the rope is made round over neck and a tight knot is made which doesn’t slip from its position. It should be cared that, the knot shouldn’t be too close to neck. Otherwise, It may blocks windpipe of the animal.
Step 5:- Now, A half hitch is made just behind the withers near the heart region.To made this half hitch, A U- Shape is made at one side of wither by folding the rope. Then,By maintaining that U- Shape, The free end of rope is passed to other side. Then, It is taken out to the side of U-Shape from beneath. Then the free end is interlocked with U-shape. In this way, A hitch is made. This is also known as interlocking step.
Step 6:- Now, Again another hitch is made at abdomen area just infront of hip bone of cattle. In this hitch, It is necessary to take care of udder. While making the rope round around the abdomen region, It shouldn’t touch udder. Otherwise, It may cause injury.
Step 7:- After making the final hitch, Now, the free end of the rope is passed through flank behind the hind legs. Now, the two persons need to pull back the rope and the cattle will come in recumbent position.
Step 8:- Now, A person needs to push the recumbent position cattle to lay it down. It is better to push to right side. The head of tha animal should face opposite to the direction of lying animal.
Step 9:- After the casting work is completed, The Animal should be freed. In Reuff’s method, We should open the knot around the neck and it automatically looses all the rope. After that, The person handling the halter rope should release the pressure and animal will stand up.
2. Alternative/Burley/Criss-cross Method Of Casting
Alternative or Burley Method or Criss-cross method of casting animals needs 3 people and a 10m long rope.
Then the process of casting starts:-
Step 1:- First animal should be separated from herd. Then, It should be taken to area of casting.
Step 2:- The area where animal is to be thrown should be made clean. If possible we can lay soft material for the minimisation of stress to animals.
Step 3:- Now, The first person should handle the rope halter in order to control the animal head. The head of the cattle should be taken near to the ground. This reduces stress of rope on neck while throwing animal on ground and prevent hanging of animal.
Step 4:- The next two persons need to handle 10 m long rope which is used for Casting. First, the 10 m long rope is bent from middle making it half-half.
Step 5:- The middle of the rope is now placed on the top of neck of cattle. Then the two ends are brought beneath the forelegs and a cross is made just below Brisket.
Step 6:- After that, The two ends of rope are taken up and are again crossed on back near loin region.
Step 7:- Now, The two ends of ropes are taken down and are passed through flanks. Finally- Two ends are taken out behind the hind legs.
Step 8:- Then, The ends of rope are pulled back using a little force. As we pull it backwards, Then- The cattle falls on ground. When it falls, the head should faced in opposite direction of falling. That’s means, If a cattle falls from right side, the head should face left side.
Step 9:- After the completion of work, The pressure of two free end should be removed. It looses all the pressure in rope. Similarly, the pressure in halter rope of head should be removed and animal will stand up.
These two methods of casting animals i.e Reuff’s method and Criss-cross method can be applied to cast Cattle, Ox, Buffalo and even for small animals.
Which One Is Best?
Both are professional method. However, Many people prefer Criss-cross method of casting over Reuff’s method of casting. The reasons behind this are:-
➡️ In Reuff’s method, There is use of knots. That’s why, It is difficult to free the animal after casting is over. However, In Criss-cross method- There is no knot involved. Animal can be freed just by releasing the pull pressure at two free ends of rope.
➡️In Reuff’s method, There are 3 pressure points i.e At neck, Wither region and At abdomen. However, In Criss-cross method- There are only 2 pressure points i.e at Brisket region and at loin region.
➡️ Moreover, The process of Criss-cross method of casting animals is easy to remember than Reuff’s method of casting.
Precautions In Casting Of Animals
There are certain things or safety precautions that are to be taken in during casting process. These precautions are discussed below:-
1.Prior to casting Animals
✓Casting rope should be of Soft and strong materials like jute or cotton(8-12)m long.
✓Ground should be well labelled, soft and free from glass and pebbles.
✓It is better to fast animal for 12 hours before casting.
✓ Pregnant or Sick animal shouldn’t be casted.
2.During casting Animals
✓ Animal shouldn’t be hurt in anyway.
✓ In Reuff’s method, The knot should be tight and shouldn’t slip from its position.
✓ The head of the animal should be faced near to ground. This prevents stress on neck when animal falls on the ground.
✓ The Ruminants should be fall on ground on its right side. In left side, There is rumen. If it fall on left, then it can make damage to rumen and digestive system of that animal.
✓ In any method, Rope shouldn’t create any pressure on udder.
3.After Casting Animals
✓After performing various purposes, the rope should be released slowly and gently.
✓ Animal shouldn’t be laid on ground for longer time. It creates bloat.
✓ The animal should be groomed properly after the casting is over.
Final Verdict
Thus, Casting Of Animals is very necessary technique to learn in order to manage farm in proper way.
During casting proper precautions should be applied so that our animal doesn’t get any hurt.
This is whole information on Casting Of Animals: Cattle & Buffalo.
