[An inventory of the castration of stallions based on a survey among Dutch veterinarians].

To gain an insight into the procedures adopted in castrating stallions in the Netherlands, a questionnaire was sent to 670 Dutch veterinary practitioners. The 176 veterinary practitioners who replied performed 1850 castrations. Castration of the recumbent horse was preferred by 88 per cent of the veterinary surgeons. Fifty per cent preferred the open method of castration and 44 per cent the half-closed technique. A local anaesthetic was given by 65 per cent of the practitioners; 84 per cent administered antibiotics in an attempt to prevent wound infection. Postoperative complications were observed in 18 per cent of the castrations carried out.