Effect of weaning method on body weight testicular growth, sexual behavior, age of puberty, and testosterone concentration of Beetal bucks

The current study evaluates the effects of early (8th week) and late (16th week of age) weaning of male goat kids on their body growth, testicular growth, sexual behavior, plasma testosterone concentration, and pubertal age. Early (n = 6) and late (n = 7) weaned Beetal bucks were weekly monitored from 18th to 38th week for their body weight, scrotal circumference, testicular volume, testicular echogenicity (via ultrasonography), sexual activities, and plasma testosterone concentration. In comparison to early-weaned, late-weaned bucks showed a marked increase (p < .05) in body weight (11.4 +/- 0.8 vs. 13.7 +/- 0.6kg), testicular volume (44.1 +/- 7.2 vs. 79.8 +/- 18.7cm 3 ), scrotal circumference (10.7 +/- 0.6 vs. 12.8 +/- 0.7cm), and testicular echogenicity (28.3 +/- 2.7 vs. 38.3 +/- 2.1) from 18th, 28th, 21st, and 24th week onward, respectively. Sexual activities started earlier in late- than early-weaned bucks (22nd vs. 25th week, respectively). Moreover, the sexual behavior index was better (p < .05) after the 34th week in late than early-weaned bucks. The plasma concentration of testosterone (at 39 weeks of age) was relatively more and the onset of puberty was 2-3 weeks earlier (p < .05) in late than early-weaned bucks. In conclusion, age-based early weaning of male kids impairs their testicular growth, sexual behavior, and age at puberty compared to conventional weaning.