Sex determination in ratites using steroid hormones

摘要

A method for sex determination in ratites, such as ostriches, comprises administering a hormone that causes sex to be determined to a fertilized ratite egg, followed by incubation. Preferably, administration includes injection of the hormone into the egg and, preferably, before injection a hole is drilled into the eggshell of the egg. The material that determines sex in ratites includes natural estrogens or a functionally equivalent amount of its synthetic mimics to cause female development and natural nonaromatizable androgens or a functionally equivalent amount of its synthetic mimics to cause male development. Preferably, the material is estradiol-17beta (for female development) or dihydrotestrosterone (for male development). Solutions may, comprise either 1.2 milligrams of estradiol-17beta, preferably dissolved in 40 microlitres of 95% ethanol, or 7.5 milligrams of dihydrotestosterone, preferably dissolved in 100 microlitres of 95% ethanol.