What is Castration?
[[File:The Mutilation of Uranus by Saturn.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|''The Castration of [[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]]'': fresco by [[Vasari]] and [[Cristofano Gherardi]] (c. 1560, Sala di Cosimo I, [[Palazzo Vecchio]], [[Florence]]).]] '''Castration'''<ref>also: gelding, [[neutering]], orchiectomy, orchidectomy, and [[oophorectomy]]</ref> is any action, [[surgery|surgical]], chemical, or otherwise, by which a [[male]] loses the functions of the [[testes]] or a [[female]] loses the functions of the [[ovary|ovaries]]. It is also a type of [[anaphrodisiac]]. == Castration in veterinary practice == Castration is commonly performed on domestic animals not intended for [[breed]]ing. Domestic animals are usually castrated in order to avoid unwanted or uncontrolled [[reproduction]]; to reduce or prevent other ways of sexual behaviour such as territorial behaviour or aggression (like fighting between groups of uncastrated males of a [[species]]); or to reduce other consequences of sexual behaviour that may make animal husbandry more difficult, such as [[fence]] destruction when animals try to get to nearby females of the species. Male [[horse]]s are usually castrated, because [[stallion]]s are rather aggressive. The same applies to male [[mule]]s, although they are sterile. Male [[cattle]] are castrated to improve docility for use as [[oxen]]. A specialized vocabulary has arisen for neutered animals of given species: * [[Pig#Pig vocabulary|Barrow]] (pig) * [[Capon]] (chicken) * [[Dinmont]] (sheep, goat) * [[Gelding]] (horse) * [[Gib]] (cat, ferret) * [[Havier]] (deer) * [[Lapin]] (rabbit) * [[Steer]] (cattle) * [[Wether]] (sheep, goat) <!--Please add in alphabetical order--> == Castration in humans == The practice of castration has its roots before recorded human history.<ref>{{cite web | title = On Target, July 27 2003 | work = On Target (newsletter) | publisher = Target Health, Inc. | date = 2003-07-27 | url = http://www.targethealth.com/ontarget/2003/07272003.htm | access-date = 2007-04-30 | archive-da