Body Weight and Scrotal-Testicular Biometry in Three Indigenous Breeds of Bucks in Arid and Semiarid Agroecologies, Ethiopia

Abstract

The body weight and testicular and epididymal parameters of Afar, Long-eared Somali (LES), and Woyto-Guji (WG) breeds of goat were investigated. A total of 405 randomly selected bucks of Afar (n = 135), Long-eared Somali (n = 135), and Woyto-Guji (n = 135) were included in this study. The overall mean scrotal circumference (SC), testicular volume (TV), testicular length (TL), testicular weight (TW), body weight (BW), epididymal weight (EW), body condition score, and testicular diameter (TD) measurements in all bucks were 20.8 ± 1.94 cm, 68.1 ± 6.18, 4.96 ± 0.79 cm, 70.0 ± 5.66 g, 22.1 ± 2.98 Kg, 9.09 ± 1.88 g, 2.55 ± 0.68, and 4.28 ± 0.45 cm, respectively. Significant (p < 0.05) breed differences in SC, TD, TL, TW, BW, EW, and TV were recorded. Long-eared Somali (LES) breed was heaviest and Afar breed was the lightest and Woyto-Guji (WG) had the average BW. In all breeds, the parameters were positively correlated. In Afar breed, the TW had a significant correlation with BW (r = 0.90) and SC (r = 0.65). In LES BW was highly correlated with TD (r = 0.96) and TL (r = 0.96). In WG, TW was significantly correlated with TD (r = 0.94), EW (r = 0.90), TL (r = 0.89), and BW (r = 0.82). In multiple regression analysis the linear combinations of BCS, SC, and BW significantly predicted TW, TL, TV, TD, and EW in all breeds. In conclusion, Long-eared Somali breed displayed greater BW and scrotal and testicular traits.

Semen characteristics, morphology and testicular parameters of Uda (ovis aries) in Ibadan, Nigeria

“…All the testicular and epididymal biometrics were higher than those reported by Gemeda and Workalemahu (2017) in bucks. The testes weight, epididymal weight and length were lower while testicular length and epididymal and testicular volume were higher than those reported in Uda rams by Ibrahim et al (2012).…”

Testicular and epididymal sperm reserve evaluations in three Jordanian goat breeds

“…The heavier and larger testes produce more spermatozoa than the smaller testes (Brito et al 2004) due to the increase in seminiferous tubules size and proliferation of germ cells characterizing higher spermatogenic activity (Melo et al 2010). Gemeda and Workalemahu (2017) reported buck testes weight of 70 g and testes length of 4.97 cm. Testes weight of 98 and 92 g was reported in Red Sokoto and Borno White breeds, respectively, in a semiarid region of Nigeria (Raji et al 2008), while a weight value of 52 g was reported for Shale bucks (Oyeyemi et al 2012).…”

Relationship between body weight and scrotal circumference in growing Pelibuey sheep raised under tropical conditions

“…The mean body weight and scrotal circumference of growing Pelibuey sheep are shown in The discrepancies in values might be due to breed differences, as it has been reported there exist breed differences in the size of the testicular parameters (Gemeda and Workalemahu, 2017). Also, a previous study has shown that SC in ram lambs varies according to both age and body weight (Söderquist and Hultén, 2006).…”