The Effect of Environmental Factors on Testicular and Body Measurements of Norduz Lambs

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of certain environmental factors on the testicular size and body size of male Norduz lambs. In the study, testicular diameter, testicular length, scrotal length, and scrotal circumference were determined to be 2.98 +/- 0.10, 5.56 +/- 0.14, 9.76 +/- 0.16, and 14.08 +/- 0.20 cm in male Norduz lambs, respectively. Body length, chest width, chest depth, withers height, rump height, and chest girth were 50.25 +/- 0.55, 14.65 +/- 0.15, 23.64 +/- 0.25, 58.49 +/- 0.55, 59.14 +/- 0.55, and 71.39 +/- 0.73 cm, respectively. According to the results of the GLM analysis that birth type had no significant influence on testicular traits or on any of the body measurements except body length. Live weight gain had significant impact (p<0.001) on all traits. Age also had significant impact on lambs' body length, chest width, and chest depth (p<0.001), a significant effect on rump height and chest girth (p<0.01), and a significant effect on withers height (p<0.05).