Characterization of testicular and epididymal parameters in Algerian Arabia bucks

Abstract

Abstract. In goat production, the reproductive efficiency of bucks must be taken into account. Testicle size is the most appropriate parameter to directly improve the reproductive performance of females. In this study, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and testicular and epididymal parameters of Arabia goats were studied. A total number of 200 bucks wеre randomly selected and classified into three age categories (6-12 months, 13-24 months and >2 years). BW, BCS, mean scrotal circumference, testicular volume, testicular diameter, testicular length, testicular weight, testicular density, epididymal weight, epididymal length, epididymal tail length, caput weight, corpus weight, caudal weight, Gonadosomatic Index, Epididymosomatic index and Epididymal-Testicular weight ratio were measured. A highly significant correlation was found between all parameters (p<0.05). The values of all parameters increased significantly with age, with the exception of the gonadosomatic and epididymosomatic indices, which decreased with age (p<0.05). These results provide data that can be used to anticipate an adequate ante-mortem sperm reserve based on testicular size in the preliminary selection of breeding males from the local sexually mature population.

Keywords

• body condition score
• body weight
• local breed
• performance
• reproduction