NON-SURGICAL STERILISATION OF RAMS USING A SCLEROSING AGENT

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Animal Husbandry

Background:

• Effective and reversible sterilization methods for rams are crucial for livestock management and breeding programs.
• Current sterilization techniques may have limitations in terms of invasiveness, cost, or efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of epididymal injection of a formaldehyde-ethanol solution for inducing sterility in rams.
• To assess the safety, effectiveness, and impact on libido of this sterilization method.

Main Methods:

• Rams were injected with 0.25 ml of a 3.6% formaldehyde in 90% ethanol solution directly into the caudae epididymides.
• Semen quality was assessed by examining ejaculates for live sperm at multiple time points post-injection.
• Libido was evaluated by observing mating behavior with ewes, and pregnancy rates were recorded.

Main Results:

• The epididymal injection successfully induced sterility in all treated rams.
• No live sperm were detected in ejaculates collected 35, 57, 91, and 196 days post-injection.
• Rams maintained their sexual libido and did not cause any pregnancies when mated with ewes.

Conclusions:

• Injection of formaldehyde in ethanol into the caudae epididymides is a simple, safe, quick, and effective method for sterilizing rams.
• This technique offers a viable alternative for ram sterilization, preserving libido.
• Injection into the vas deferens was not successful for achieving sterilization.