gh MICROWAVES FOR ANIMALS' STERILIZATION

As soon as human beings domesticated the first wild animals, they faced the challenge of regulating the animals' reproductive function. Even nowadays the issue has not been solved yet. Traditional surgical sterilization techniques are uneconomical and the animals survive them uneasily even if the operation is performed under general anaesthetic. Recently significant invenstments and effort have been made to develop chemical contraceptives in the form of injections or forage supplements. However, they are not always efficient and cause as a rule undesirable physiological and behavioural side effects to the animals (varying from bulls and boars through dogs and cats).

Meanwhile, physiologists are aware of the fact that even the several degree overheating of the genitals oppresses reproductive functions of the mammals' organism. The researchers decided to try SHF electromagnetic fields for this purpose as these fields would ensure local heating and could be measured accurately.

The researchers used two magnetrons (their cumulative capacity being equal to 35 W) as the SHF radiation source. The animals under experiment were fastened on the back in the chute and were imposed to directional irradiation via the horn antenna. For example, the 30-second irradiation at the most was sufficient for the ten-day old boars to achieve the sterilization effect that lasted for the entire period of fattening the boars through to the slaughter, i.e. for eight months. Male dogs and cats require a slightly different approach. The experiments have proved that the microwave radiation frequency and duration should be adjusted to achieve the required effect for various animals of different age.

It seems that this method is nowadays the most effective, secure and humane type of sterilization for farming and domestic animals. The animals do not feel the pain and behave quitely. The lack of changes typical of physiological stress has been shown by the histological study and blood test. The cost of the microwave-sterilization has not been evaluated yet, but it is evidently lower than that of any other applicable sterilization method.

The Kharkov researchers believe that the microwave-technology will help to solve sanitary and ecological problem of outcast' quantity control in towns and will equip veterinaries with a reliable and humane sterilization method for farming animals and domestic pets. Of course, the pets should not be put into the microwave oven - they would not survive that!

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