Authors : Manal Abdel Wahid Salim, Sharafeldeen A. Makawi, Ahmed Abdel Gadir Adam and Babiker Abdel Atti Elsharif
Abstract: Ten Kabbashi rams were used to investigate the relationship between their body weights and testicular measurements. The rams were purchased at 7 months of age and maintained under uniform condition of feeding and management. Body weights and testicular measurements were taken once every month. The testicular measurements (cm) and body weights (kg) were subjected to linear {Y = a+bX} and logarithmic {Y = b0+b1 ln(X)} regressions where, Y is the testicular measurement and X is the body weight, a and b are constants denoting the intercept and the regression coefficient, respectively. There was a strong and positive correlation between testicular measurements and body weight in Kabbashi rams. The average live body weights increased from 22.95 kg at 7 months of age to reach 64.31 kg by 28 months. The average testicular circumference increased from 20 cm at 7 months to 34.5 cm at 20 months of age. Corresponding changes in the testicular length were found to be 12.70 and 20.81 cm at 7 and 20 months of age, respectively. The linear regression coefficient for the testicular length and testicular circumference on body weight were 0.214 and 0.287 and the coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.822 and 0.782. Due to the strong correlation between body weight and testicular measurements, body measurements can be used to select Kabbashi rams for breeding programs. However, further studies are needed to determine the relationship between these subjective morphological criteria and the actual fertility and semen quality in Kabbashi rams.
Manal Abdel Wahid Salim, Sharafeldeen A. Makawi, Ahmed Abdel Gadir Adam and Babiker Abdel Atti Elsharif, 2014. The Relationship Between Body Weight and Testicular Measurements in Kabbashi Eco-Type Desert Rams. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 13: 633-636.