Learning to use the Willis spay instrument

Summary

The Willis spay instrument is a simply designed, vaginal spaying device, widely used in North Amercia to spay heifers. The technique requires the operator to have ovarian palpation skills. Compared to flank spaying of non-pregnant cattle, it potentially offers many benefits to the cattle industry in northern Australia. These include higher processing rates, minimal surgical complications, no hide damage or carcase trim, it avoids the need to use electroimmobilisers, and it is a more humane and aesthetically acceptable means of spaying. The findings of this pilot study, where the Willis spaying technique was successfully learned and applied by 3 different operators, on 40 Brahman cross heifers, support these claims.