The relationship between scrotal circumference at weaning and at one year of age in beef bulls.
Scrotal circumference data obtained from performance test station bulls were corrected to 240 and 365 days of age. Data were analyzed, retrospectively, to determine the outcome for scrotal circumference at 365 days of age, if bulls were culled at selected cut-off values for scrotal circumference at 240 days of age. The data indicate that scrotal circumference measurements in weaned bulls may not be useful as a culling tool, since a large proportion of bulls, irrespective of breed, fell below the selected cut-off measurement for scrotal circumference at weaning, but met the minimum scrotal circumference at one year of age. Scrotal circumference measurements at 240 days of age may, however, be useful as a tool for selecting bulls with a greater than 80% probability of achieving the minimum scrotal circumference measurement at one year of age.
Barth
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AD
Department of Herd Medicine and Theriogenology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
Ominski
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KH
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005298:Fertility; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012611:Scrotum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014886:Weaning