Growth and sexual development of indigenous West African boars.
60 indigenous West African boars were slaughtered in groups of five each per month at ages from one to twelve months, and the body weights and the weights of several parts of the reproductive tract were determined. It was found that the growth rate of the reproductive organs is not uniform throughout these twelve months. Up to the fourth month there was a lower growth rate, followed by a strong increase up to the sixth month, and finally a slower growth period up to twelve months of age. The growth rates of the testes and epididymides correlated with the body growth rates, strongly between the testes and the body weight in the first four months, between epididymides and body weight in the fifth and sixth months, between testes/epididymides and body weight from the seventh to the ninth month, and after that until the twelfth month between testes/vesicular glands and body weight.
D000354:Africa, Western; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002030:Bulbourethral Glands / Q000254:growth & development; D004822:Epididymis / Q000254:growth & development*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010413:Penis / Q000254:growth & development; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000254:growth & development; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development*