Adjustment factors for scrotal circumference at yearling for crossbred Aberdeen Angus x Nelore young bulls

Adjustment factors (AF) for scrotal circumference at yearling (SCY) were figured out for effects of genetic group (GG), individual heterozygosis (IH), yearling weight (YW), and age of the animal at yearling weight (AYW) using body weight and scrotal circumference records from 11,662 Aberdeen Angus, Nelore, and their crosses. The animals were born from 1987 to 2001 and were raised in the South East and Central West Regions of Brazil. The regression coefficients to obtain AF were estimated by least squares means method. The model included the fixed effects of contemporaneous group at yearling (CG), maternal heterozygosis (MH), IH, and the covariates YW (linear and quadratic effects) and AYW (linear effect). All the factors included in the model showed significant effects (P<0.01) on SCY. The mean and standard deviation for SCY were 29.90+/-3.55cm. Quadratic effect of YW on SCY was also observed. Decreases in SCY with the increase in YW was found. High SCY was observed immediately after post-weaning. The YW effects on SCY were 0.06695804+/-0.00345000cm/kg (linear effect) and -0.00005252+/-0.00000508cm/kg(2) (quadratic effect). The AYW linear effect on SCY was 0.02176450+/-0.00038568cm/day. The factors included in the model are important sources of variation to adjust SCY for the selection of young bulls in order to improve sexual precocity.