title: [Suppression of sexual activity and reproduction in male small ruminants].
abstract: Handling and husbandry of male small ruminants after sexual maturity often become difficult. Castration is currently the most reliable solution to this problem. Medicinal procedures for temporary inhibition of the gonad function could provide an alternative. Following a short overview of surgical castration, the current knowledge on the application of vaccines against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and GnRH agonist in rams and billy goats is presented in a literature overview. In rams, GnRH vaccination has been used successfully for temporary suppression of the reproduction function, regardless of an animal's age at the time of therapy initiation. Fewer investigations are available for the billy goat. A complete suppression of spermatogenesis was not achieved in all cases. Currently, treatment with GnRH agonists does not represent a relible method for the suppression of gonad function.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mihsler
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Axel Wehrend, Klinikum Veterinärmedizin, Klinik für Geburtshilfe, Gynäkologie und Andrologie der Groß- und Kleintiere mit Tierärztlicher Ambulanz, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 106, 35392 Gießen, E-Mail: Axel.wehrend@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wehrend
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D006041:Goats; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012756:Sheep; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive
chemical_list: D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: Gonad function; billy goat; castration; husbandry problems; ram