Body Measurement of Red Sokoto Bucks in Nigeria and Their Relationship with Testicular Biometrics

Abstract

Ninety Red Sokoto bucks were used to assess the relationship between body, testicular and epididymal measurements in three age groups (group 1: 7-12 months; group 2: between 1 and 2 years and group 3: older than 2 years). The effect of age on body and testicular / epididymal measurements was analyzed. A predictive model was developed for each of the testicular / epididymal measurements using live body measurements. Age of the buck had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the body weight, paunch girth, scrotal circumference, testicular and epididymal measurements (testicular volume, testicular weight, caput weight and caudal weight). Higher correlation coefficients were recorded between testicular volume and testicular weight and between caput weight and epididymal weight in all groups (group 1: r=0.99 and r=0.95; group 2: r=0.97 and r=0.95; group3: r=0.97 and r=0.93, respectively). Scrotal circumference was found to be independently related to some testicular and / or epididymal measurements in groups 1 and 2. In the multivariate linear regression model, all body parameters used were found to be related to some of the testicular and epididymal measurements. The results indicated that selection for replacement breeding bucks could be done for bulks up to two years of age using data on scrotal circumference.