Castration

Castration of a stallion is a normal management procedure and is the most common elective equine surgery. Reasons to castrate a stallion are:

1. Significant reduction in male aggressive behavior toward other horses and toward people
   
   
2. Elimination of fertility (puberty begins at 10-12 months so the colt is potentially fertile)
   
   
3. Reduce masculine conformational features.  (Testosterone causes an earlier closure of growth plates in developing bones resulting is a shorter, stockier, more muscular stature.  The muscles of the face, jaws, and neck are particularly powerful in the stallion.  Castrating at an earlier age will reduce these masculinizing effects of testosterone < 18 months)
   
   
4. Remove diseased or damaged testes (The remaining testicle will increase in size and sperm production if done prior to puberty; stallions with just one testicle remain fertile although the daily sperm output is not equivalent to having 2 testes.)