Ultrassonografia testicular em touros jovens e correlação com puberdade e produção espermática

Abstract

The present work aims to evaluate the echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma of young bulls correlating with precocious puberty. The study was developed with 39 Nellore purebred bulls (PO) aged 12 to 18 months. The collection was performed monthly, where weight, scrotal circumference, and testicular ultrasonography were recorded. Semen collection was performed only on animals aged 14, 16 and 18 months. The collected data were organized in a Microsoft Office Excel 2010 spreadsheet for later analysis using the Minitab statistical program. The animals were separated into two groups, those that produced semen and those that did not and then classified as early, super early and normal, the means generated by the ANOVA were compared by Tukey test. The variables were correlated by Pearson's method. The echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma did not influence sperm production and precocity. The early animals had higher weight and EC than the super early and normal ones. Weight and age were highly correlated, there was no correlation between weight and mean gray scale and scrotal circumference and mean gray scale. Testicular ultrasonography is not adequate as an indicator of sexual precocity and sperm production. Measurement of body weight and scrotal circumference are the most effective tools for predicting the reproductive potential of young Nellore (PO) bulls, which are also the most economically efficient selection tools.