Abstract

BITTO, Immanuel I  and  EGBUNIKE, Gabriel N. Seasonal Variations in the Morphometric Characteristics of the Pubertal West African Dwarf Buck in its Native Tropical Environment . Int. J. Morphol. [online]. 2006, vol.24, n.4, pp.637-642. ISSN 0717-9502.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022006000500020.

The effects of season on the morphometric characteristics of the reproductive organs of the pubertal West African Dwarf buck in its native humid tropical environment were investigated. All morphometric characteristics as well as the derivations from both testicular and epididymal morphometry were unaffected by season (p<0.05). There were however, highly significant correlations (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001) between body weight and testicular as well as epididymal morphometry. The results also showed that both testicular and epididymal morphometric characteristics in the pubertal buck are highly predictable from body weight and as such lend ground for the early selection of good sires from records of their growth rate. The non effect of season on both testicular and epididymal morphometry in this work generally demonstrates that there might be no restricted breeding season for the West African dwarf buck in its native humid tropical environment

Keywords : Season; Pubertal buck; Testicular morphometry; Humid tropics.

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