The effect of nutrition on testicular [and wool] growth in the Merino ram [sheep]

摘要: Testicular growth was highly correlated with liveweight change in a curvilinear relationship. Change in liveweight and respiration rate were highly correlated with digestible energy intake. Wool growth was highly correlated with crude protein intake and nitrogen balance, with digestible energy having only a marginal influence. There was also a high correlation between digestible energy intake and testicular growth, with dietary protein having only a marginal influence. Comparison of these data with published data on testicular growth in rams confirmed the above relationships. It was concluded that testicular growth in rams responds more to digestible energy intake and liveweight change than to crude protein availability.