RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BODY AND SCROTAL MEASUREMENTS, AND SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS IN YANKASA RAM

The study was conducted to determine the relationships between body measurements, scrotal and seminal characteristics using 62 Yankasa rams at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Body measurements related positively with testicular measurements (0.40-0.83). Body (0.27-0.48) and testicular (0.25-0.48) measurements were positively related to semen characteristics. However, the relationship between semen pH and sperm concentration was negative (-0.29 to -0.38), with testicular dimension (-0.30 to -0.38) and with body measurements (-0.29 to -0.38). The study revealed that efficient fertility of Yankasa rams and subsequent conception rate in ewes would depend on the interactions of these variables.