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Examination of the use of intraovarian administration of CaCl 2 and zinc gluconate as potential chemosterilants in Bos indicus heifers
Author(s) -
Cavalieri J,
Hayes L
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/avj.12644
Subject(s) - saline , zoology , medicine , biology , andrology , endocrinology
Objective To investigate if administration of potential chemosterilants by transvaginal, ultrasound‐guided intraovarian injection is an alternative to surgical sterilisation. Design Randomised control study. Methods Bos indicus heifers were treated with intraovarian injections of saline (n = 10), CaCl 2 (n = 10), zinc gluconate (ZG; n = 10) or a combination of CaCl 2 and ZG (CaCl 2 + ZG; n = 10). Heifers were exposed to a bull from 82 to 84 days after treatment and slaughtered between 364 and 396 days after treatment. Results After treatment administration, the concentrations of haptoglobin and anti‐Müllerian hormone and the total oocyte counts did not differ (P > 0.150) between treatments. Pain responses were observed in heifers treated with ZG and CaCl 2 + ZG but not in heifers treated with saline or CaCl 2 . Total ovarian mass at slaughter was less in heifers treated with CaCl 2 compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05). Complete regression of one ovary was observed in 40% (4/10) of the heifers treated with CaCl 2 . Pregnancies were recorded in ≥ 70% of heifers administered each treatment. Conclusion Treatments used in this study were not able to sterilise most of the B. indicus heifers, but treatment with CaCl 2 has the potential to cause complete ovarian atrophy without causing detectable pain.