Sharpvet elastrator pliers, blue plastic

Details

Elastrator pliers spend most of the year in a bucket and get used hard for a few weeks, which is why the plastic-bodied version makes sense for a lot of small flocks. It does the same job as the steel one, weighs less in the hand, and does not rust when it inevitably gets put away damp. The mechanism is the same across both models: four prongs that hold a ring open while it is worked into position, and a handle that closes to release it. It takes the standard green elastrator rings and is intended for castration and tail docking in lambs and kids. The prongs are the working part and the thing to inspect, because a bent or splayed prong will not open a ring evenly and makes placement harder than it needs to be. Plastic is the trade-off here. It is lighter and cheaper but less forgiving of being stood on or levered against something, so if the tool is going to be shared around a crew or used on hundreds of animals a season, the stainless steel version is the one that will still be working next year. Rinse and dry it after use, and check the prong tips before each batch. Procedures, timing and pain control are matters to discuss with your veterinarian.