Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques

TESTES

The testis is

• Primary andrological organ which produces semen and testosterone.
• It is a oval shaped paired gland located outside the body within the scrotum.
• Right & left testicles are separated by muscular septum which is formed by dartos muscle.
• The size, shape, form and consistency of the testes should be assessed carefully.
• Testicular mass directly indicates the capacity of semen production of a bull.

• Testes should be carefully palpated and evaluated during the examination.
• Restrained bull should be approached from behind to palpate the testes to reduce risk of injury.
• Size, shape, form and consistency should be assessed.
• The testes should be freely movable within the scrotum and the testes should be symmetric.
• The testes may rotate 40 degrees normally and the 'scrotal ligament' may cause the testes to be pulled dorsal and caudal, but this has little apparent affect on fertility.
• Normal testes are almost always symmetrical, any deviation from balance and symmetry should be evaluated carefully before a prognosis is given.
• The size of the testes is correlated with sperm production in the bull and age of puberty in the offspring.
• Variations of normal scrotal conformation - elongated testes, rounded testes, rotated testes and distinctly cleaved testes.
• Abnormal scrotal conformation - testes held too close, unilateral hypoplasia, scrotal hernia and incomplete descent.
• Bulls with abnormalities of the testes should not be used for breeding because most of these defects are heritable.

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