Improving Beef Cattle Production: Safety and Effectiveness of New Immunocastration Vaccine

Simple Summary The research focuses on the development and evaluation of a new immunocastration vaccine for beef cattle. Controlled and on-farm trials were conducted to evaluate safety, immunogenicity, immunocastration efficacy, and production parameters. The vaccine demonstrated safety and efficacy in inducing specific anti-GnRH antibodies, reducing estrus presentation and progesterone concentration, and improving production parameters. This research presents promising results for the efficacy and safety of the immunocastration vaccine, highlighting the potential benefits for reproductive management of beef cattle.Abstract Reproductive control in mammals, particularly in beef production systems, is crucial for managing behaviors driven by sex steroids, which can cause biosecurity issues, reduced weight gain, and decreased meat quality. Additionally, controlling sexual activity in females prevents unwanted pregnancies when both sexes are housed together for fattening. Surgical castration in cattle, commonly performed under field conditions, is associated with significant welfare concerns due to pain and infection risks. Furthermore, castrating female cattle in the field is often impractically expensive. Hence, new reproductive control methods that prioritize animal welfare and are suitable for both sexes are essential. Immunocastration (IC), which involves vaccination against the GnRH-I hormone, has emerged as a promising alternative, demonstrating efficacy and safety in various species. Immunocastration has proven to be an effective alternative to surgical castration in controlling reproduction and promoting animal welfare in several species. This study aims to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, immunocastration effect, and productive impact of a novel IC vaccine developed in Chile for female cattle. Two consecutive trials were conducted, the first under controlled conditions and the second under field conditions. The results demonstrated that the new vaccine is safe and effective for use in beef cattle, inducing specific immunity against GnRH-I, reducing gonadal functionality, and improving productive parameters. These findings suggest that this new IC vaccine can significantly benefit the beef cattle industry by providing a welfare-friendly and efficient method of reproductive control.