Manitoba farmer Jodi Suchoplas has spent several years fine-tuning a castration aid designed to help workers emasculate calves alone.

The Pacman-like mouth of the handheld, heavy-duty plastic item features a funnel-shaped opening that reduces to a width of about 6mm.

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This, she says, is the perfect size to slip across the neck of the scrotum to separate balls from beast.

It mimics the shape of a pinched hand, ensuring that neither testis can slip back inside before the rubber castration band is fitted, eliminating the risk of financial penalties should steers be left with one testicle in error.

The task is best done with the calf – aged two weeks or younger – laid down, but the gadget will still work with the animal standing.

After launching the bovine version last January, Jodi was inundated with requests for a version suitable for lambs and kid goats.

It is now ready for sale and is designed for use on animals between one and three weeks old, positioned upright or laying on their backs.

The version for calves is priced at C$25 (£14); the smaller lamb and kit model is C$18 (£10).