BAR TODAY || Official Quarterly Publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

Electroacupuncture increases sexual activity in cows
by Rita T. De la Cruz

July-September 2003
Volume 5 No. 3

dairy cattle

http://www.mason.gmu.edu

In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is best used as a healing technique to stimulate specific points and improve the flow and balance of energy in the human body. Due to its helpful effect to humans, this technique has developed into different types. Aside from the traditional needle acupuncture, there are the electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, aquapuncture and the homeopuncture.

But did you know that acupuncture is also used in treating infertility problems in cows?

Cows go through a postpartum anestrus. It is the period of sexual inactivity in dairy cows that occurs immediately after giving birth. This stage of infertility in cows takes 30 to 50 days and may extend up to 90 days. When this period is prolonged, conception is delayed; calving interval is increased; and milk production is decreased, which all result to a great loss in profits for cattle raisers.

The idea of using acupuncture is not a new initiative in the field of veterinary medicine. In fact, several methods of acupuncture have been used in treating not only infertility in cattle but also other disorders like metabolic, muscuoskeletal, respiratory and urogenital. But recently, the group of Dr. Arss Secka of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) investigated the effect of electroacupuncture and aquapuncture in treating dairy cattle with postpartum anestrus. They used 5% red pepper decoction as aquapuncture solution. This method is a cheap alternative since red pepper is readily available.

To prepare the decoction, ten grams of red pepper were chopped into small bits and boiled in water. It was then filtrated and added with distilled water. The decoction was injected in two acupuncture points of the cow: Acupoint 31 and Acupoint 52. Acupoint 31 is situated at the back midline along the spine of the cow while Acupoint 52 is located at the hollow between the anus and the tail. Three treatments were used: aquapuncture with red pepper decoction, electroacupuncture, and the control group.

Thirty-six Holstein-Friesian crossbreds were used for the study and were subjected to thorough observation.

Results showed that between the two methods, aquapuncture with red pepper decoction and electroacupuncture, the latter gave the best stimulation. This result suggested that electroacupuncture is more effective in treating postpartum anestrus. The group treated with electroacupuncture had the highest number of cows coming into estrus (sexual excitement) after only one treatment that lasted from 2 to 26 days.

In terms of conception rate, the acupuncture-treated group, specifically the electroacupuncture group, was higher than the non-treated group. They have the highest count of pregnancies within the 180 days from the first artificial insemination.

The result of this study is beneficial for cattle raisers particularly those in the dairy business. Electroacupuncture is the best alternative method in treating postpartum anestrus. Conventional treatment like injecting hormones to produce estrus is expensive.

Source:
Secka Arss, Jezie Acorda, and Antonio Rayos. (2001): "Comparison Between Electroacupuncture and Aquapuncture Using Red Pepper Decoction in the Treatment of Postpartum Anestrus in dairy Cattle." Philippine Journal of Veterinary Animal Science. pp 123-134.)