Chemical castration by a single bilateral intra-testicular injection of chlorhexidine gluconate and cetrimide in bucks

Six apparently healthy Borno white bucks weighing 15± 1.6 kg and aged 1.3± 0.3 years were used for this study. Two and half (2.5) ml Purit® (chlorhexidine gluconate 0.3% B.P W/V and cetrimide 3.0% B.P W/V CAPL Lagos) were injected bilaterally into the caudae of each epididymis following sedation with xylazine hydrochloride. The pre-study scrotal circumference was 20.1±1.5cm; Significant decrease in scrotal circumference (P 0.01) 15.8±1.6cm occurred 35 days post-injection. There was no significant difference (P 0.05) between pre-injection semen volume 0.6±2.1ml and 24 hour post-injection semen volume 0.3±1.4cm. Subsequently, only few drops could be collected and from day 20 post- injection, no semen ejaculate could be collected from all the six bucks. Azoospermia was noted from day 16 post-injection with 0% motile cells, 95% dead cells and 25-60% abnormal sperm cells. From this study, Purit® (chlorhexidine gluconate B.P 0.3% W/V and cetrimide B.P 3.0% W/V) can be used as an effective chemical castration agent in small ruminants.