Testicular measurements and reproductive characteristics in stallions.

Factors affecting testicular measurements in situ and the relationships among the measurements and various reproductive characteristics were studied using data from 48 stallions. Mean values during the breeding season are provided for scrotal width, widths and lengths of individual testes, combined weight of testicular parenchyma, daily sperm production and daily sperm output. Testicular measurements were highly repeatable from day to day and for repeated measurements on a given day; technician provided the largest source of variation in the measurements of a given stallion. Age significantly affected all testicular measurements; testicular size for 2- to 3-year-old stallions did not differ (P greater than 0.05) from that for 4- to 6-year-olds, but was smaller (P less than 0.05) than testicular size of stallions greater than or equal to 7 years old. Scrotal width was correlated (P less than 0.01) with daily sperm production (r = 0.75) and daily sperm output (r = 0.55) and was generally the most repeatable measurement.