Publikationsdatenbank

Can fertility of bulls be modified by acupuncture? (2006)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Arlt, S.

Drillich, M.

Heuwieser, W.

Quelle

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene

Bandzählung: 41

Heftzählung: Suppl. 1

Seiten: 2

ISSN: 0936-6768

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2006.00663.x

Kontakt

Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung

Königsweg 65
Haus 27
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62618
fortpflanzungsklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture
and moxa treatment on fertility of bulls. In a pilot study six bulls
with semen abnormalities in volume (<3 ml) and density (<1 bn/
ml) were submitted to acupuncture treatment. Although Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM) requires individualised treatments, the
animals were treated with a fixed acupuncture protocol. This was
necessary because the individualised diagnostic by so called Shupoints
in cattle is difficult. Also a standard treatment ensured a
comparable analysis of treatment results. Furthermore, especially in
the treatment of bulls it is important to use acupuncture points that
can be reached and stimulated innocuously. Following acupuncture
points were used: Bladder 23, Bladder 31, Kidney 3, Governing
Vessel 3 and Governing Vessel 4. The treatment course consisted of
three treatments for a period of three weeks. Stainless steel
disposable needles (0.5 mm x 0.7 mm) were inserted 2–4 cm deep
for 20 min. Moxa was applied once at the acupuncture points
Governing Vessel 3 and Governing Vessel 4 by artemisia wool and
miso paste. Analysis of the semen was performed twice a week
28 days before, during and 22 days after the treatment course.
Statistical analysis showed no significant changes in volume, density
and motility of semen. Hence the introduced programme was not
able to increase the semen quality in the six bulls. Further studies
are necessary to determine whether a longer treatment course or
using promising acupuncture points at the linea alba are more
effective.