BACKGROUND
Sterilization is routinely performed in male farm animals to prevent aggressive behavior and unwanted pregnancies, avoid of prorogation of inferior genetic traits and enhance meat quality. Several studies have also demonstrated a strong impact of animal stress and pain associated with castration on weight gain. In farm animals, the most commonly used castration methodologies include open surgery and banding with an elastrator rubber ring. Although these techniques do not significantly impact the overall wellbeing of an animal when performed in the first 4-weeks of birth, castrations that are performed in calves older than 3 months can be painful and may increase the risk of hemorrhage, infection and delayed healing around the banding site. Currently, sterilization of companion animals relies on surgical means such as neutering (i.e., the physical removal of the testes) of a male animal or spaying (i.e., the surgical removal of the female reproductive tract, including the ovaries, oviducts, uterine horns, and the uterus) of a female animal. However, such surgical removal in pets is invasive, time‐consuming, requires highly trained veterinarians to perform the procedures, and close monitoring to minimize the risk of infection.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
OSU researchers have developed a novel approach that involves a direct injection of a chemical reactant in the reproductive organs (e.g., testis, ovaries etc.) using a special device. The in-vivo chemical process results in the death, necrosis, and/or substantial cessation of functioning of the reproductive tissue within milliseconds, and for safety the approach is designed for targeted action within reproductive organs. Having already performed preliminary studies in goats, our team proved that the proposed technology is highly effective in attaining sterilization. Currently, the new approach is being evaluated in sterilization of companion animals.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
- Minimally-invasive castration/neuter procedures for farm animal and pets
MAIN ADVANTAGES
- Novel approach for more efficient and low cost castration that is desired by veterinarian and farmers
- A new solution to castration that enhances the animal well-being by reducing pain and distress, and ensures humane animal handling
- A patent application filed to protect proposed castration method. Strong potential to generate new intellectual property (IP) through an R&D grant awarded in 2019
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
The support from the Oklahoma Applied Research Support (OARS) grant is used to evaluate the technology in minimally-invasive castration of farm animals and male pets. A patent application has been filed to protect our novel castration method, and development is ongoing to design and build a new injection device.
COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY
Farm Animals: We estimated a total of 17 million calve castrations performed each year. Our interviews with farmers and veterinarians during OSU’s NSF I-Corps program suggest that we can charge between $5 and $10 per animal using our technology. This results in a total addressable market of at least $85 million in calves alone. Many farmers and veterinarians whom we interviewed have expressed strong interest in new castration approaches that are less painful to an animal and do not result in a substantial extra cost.
Companion Animals: The technology has an estimated total addressable US market of $60 million in male pet sterilizations. This estimate is based on ~ 6 million neuter procedures performed annually in the US, and a conservative $10 per animal sell price for our technology. Customer interviews performed by our team confirmed assumptions around the pricing of this new technology.