scrotal measurements

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Just finished going through our scrotal measurements on the yearling bulls this year. The oldest bulls were 13 months old and the youngest were 10 1/2 months old. with out any adjustments for age we are averaging right at 40 cm. 37 being the smallest and 42 being the largest. How much emphasis do you put on scrotal measures when buying a bull? RW

 

[HCCHSS]

As a purebred breeder I put alot of emphasis in the scrotal department, but to be honest with you averaging 40 cm for me is too big! If it gets too cold when those bulls are older their nuts are too big for them to pull them up close to their body and then they get frostbite! I personally like to see them and 37-38 cm at a year. Just my 2 cents.

 

[HAB]

Sometimes I think too much emphasis is put on scrotal size.  I have seen too many bulls (various breeds) with big scrotums, but low libido.  All the live semen in the world won't get there if the bull won't get off his ass and breed something.

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Sometimes I think too much emphasis is put on scrotal size.  I have seen too many bulls (various breeds) with big scrotums, but low libido.  All the live semen in the world won't get there if the bull won't get off his ass and breed something.

I have never noticed a direct coraltion between scrotal size and libido. I have seen lazy bulls of all sizes, breeds and scrotal measures. I think there is more of a link between fertility and scrotal size though. We have very few bulls that test out that have large scrotals compared to when we averaged maybe 37 cm. This year we are 100% on semen tests, Last year we had to retest one that wouldn't pass at 10 months old, he passed at 12 months with out any problem. RW

 

[cdncowboy]

Depends what his job is supposed to be. If he's a terminal cross for feeder cattle not so much, as long as he meets minimum size and passes semen test.  Same has been true for clean up bull on clubby breeding, seems most times my AI'ing for steers turns out heifers, so I've tried AI for heifers and natural for steers. 
Of course if we're looking for a more maternal influenced bull testicle size is more important.  We tend to like the slightly above average rather than the well above average testicled bulls - everything in moderation!
IMO there is some credibility to the theory of testicle shape not just circumference effecting fertility as well.
That some breeds who "struggle" with circumference, make up for it in having a longer more bell shaped testicle that allows the testicles to remain cooler thus helping in the production of quality semen.

RW those are some impressive measurements, even in the angus breed.

 

[wowcows]

I have always been a big fan of big scrotal measurements. And the comment of them not being able to suck 'um up in the cold is not quite what I have experienced. I have worried enough about that with no reason come time to semen check.  <beer> The big nutted ones are the first ones to check good and IMO are the ones that are going to get out and do the work, ie: libido

 

[Show Heifer]

Depends on who took them!  I have watched them scrotal measure at the Beef Expo, and have seen the tape pulled "taunt" sometimes, while others would loosely taken. No fault of the operator, just depends on how the bull cooperates. Depedns on if the tape operator is having a good time or not, etc.  I have also seen scrotals taken by one person who always pulls it tight, while other operators use a more gentle touch. A centimeter isn't much to vary.
Scrotal measurements also vary by weather. Is it hot? Was it cold? Was the bull just washed when it was 10 degrees?
Kinda like ultrasound carcass info, the operator is crucial. It can vary much more than anyone realizes.

So I guess, although I look at them, they are just a single tool, that is just a small part of a big equation.

 

[Freddy]

Feed makes scrotal bigger, lot of these sales a yearling will never test bigger than what he does when sold , some have extra condition, some just different ways of measuring ..  we had one at 48 as a yearling , vet checked ,some people thought he had been stepped on , but vet said no sign of injury.    He also didn't make it through the first season ,have had some 44- 42- 40  an no problems but don't want them any bigger .  Had a Charolais bull that his calves measured consistantly at 32-34 an were extremely fertile .  Prefer my  bulls to be 36 or bigger  for purebred use  at a year old .....

 

[justintime]

Scrotal size is a key consideration when I am looking for a herd sire, simply because we do breeding soundness exams on our bulls  before they are sold, and there is nothing more annoying to have a very good bull not pass simply because his testicles are just below minimal requirements that are set by each breed association. I do believe that there is a correlation between testicle size and maternal traits of his daughters. For a long time, it was thought that bigger was always better when it came to testicle size, but I am now seeing some bull buyers passing by the bulls with the huge testicle size. I agree with the comments made by heaven_cattle. In our climate, it usually the bulls with the biggest testicles in the pen that end up with frost bite.
Like I have said on many different topics on SP, I am truly becoming a believer that there is some optimum place in every trait, and the best things in life are usually best in optimum amounts.

 

[wowcows]

There are those more round ones and then the more elongated I guess. Some ole timer told me one time that the longer ones was where the milk was in his daughters?