Abstract

The effect of age, weight and scrotal circumference on the testicular and epididymal parameters was studied in the Red Sokoto bucks. Thirty-six testes from Red Sokoto bucks were used for this study. The animal’s age, weight, and scrotal circumference were determined and correlated with testicular weight, testicular diameter, testicular length, epididymal length, gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm motility and viability. All parameters were correlated positively and negatively at various instances of p < 0.01 and p < 0.05. The sperm morphological abnormalities showed that tailless head (primary abnormality), headless tail (secondary abnormality), bent tail (secondary abnormality), curved tail (secondary abnormality), bent mid-piece (tertiary abnormality) and curved mid-piece (secondary abnormality), total sperm abnormalities and total cell count were found to be significant at p < 0.01. It was concluded that the age, weight and scrotal circumference of Red Sokoto buck were positively correlated to its testicular and epididymal parameters and therefore are potentially useful in the evaluation of the breeding soundness of the bucks.

Key words: Epididymis, Red Sokoto bucks, scrotal circumference, testes, weight.