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Relationships of Sire Scrotal Circumference to Offspring Reproduction and Growth¹

Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523

Abstract

Reproductive and growth data were obtained on 779 and 564 yearling beef heifers and bulls, respectively, that had sires with yearling scrotal circumference data at the San Juan Basin Research Center, Hesperus, CO. Partial regression coefficients of reproductive and growdi traits on inbreeding (FXC) and age of the individual and adjusted scrotal circumference of sire (SCSI) were obtained. Growth and reproductive traits of heifers and growth and breeding soundness traits of bulls were analyzed. Separate analyses for each sex were performed, but least squares models were similar. Models included fixed effects of breed, birth year (BY), age of dam (AOD) and the covariates FXC, age (day of birth in heifer analyses) and SCSI. Scrotal circumference of sire was adjusted for age, FXC, AOD and BY using values obtained in a separate analysis. Seminal traits improved as age increased, and there was a seasonal effect present for age of puberty. Inbreeding had a detrimental effect on reproductive traits. Partial regression coefficients for the reproductive traits on SCSI were: age of puberty, –.796 d/cm; age of first calving, –.826 d/cm; Julian day of first calving, –.667 d/cm; Julian day of second calving, .597 d/cm; most probable producing ability, .132 %/cra; percent sperm motility, –.74 %/cm; percent primary sperm abnormalities, .08 %/cm; percent secondary sperm abnormalities, .92 %/cm; percent normal sperm, –1.28 %/cm; total breeding soundness examination score, .28 units/cm and scrotal circumference, .306 cm/cm. A heritability of .39 was obtained for scrotal circumference.

¹ Agric. Exp. Sta. res. publ. project no. 28.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

³ USDA-ARS, Fort Collins

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