DIET FOR COMPENSATORY GAIN OF SHEEP IN FEEDLOT: BIOMETRY AND MORPHOMETRIC ASPECTS OF THE TESTICLES

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the diet for compensatory gain on biometry, body condition, scrotal circumference, absolute and relative testicular weight and morphometry of seminiferous tubules of lambs finished in feedlot. For this purpose, 40 Santa Inês lambs, non-castrated males, were housed in individual stalls. The feedlot was divided into two distinct periods of 42 days: a feeding restriction period, with four treatments (0, 20, 40 and 60% restriction), and a refeeding period, where all animals were refed without restriction. At the end of the confinement period, the biometrics, body condition, and testicular morphology were evaluated. After slaughter, fragments of the testicles were collected to evaluate the morphometry of the seminiferous tubules. Final weight (44.0, 41.6, 39.4, 35.8 kg), zoometric measurements of body length and chest circumference decreased linearly as the previous restriction increased. The body condition score; the height of the previous one; height of the hindquarter; leg length; thigh circumference; scrotal circumference (mean of 28.4 cm); absolute and relative testicular weight; diameter, circumference and area of the lumen; diameter, circumference and area of the seminiferous tubule; The height of the seminiferous epithelium and the percentage of the cross-sections of the seminiferous tubules containing the different cells of the seminiferous epithelium of lambs were not influenced by the feeding regimen for compensatory gain. The feeding regimen for compensatory gain can be used in feedlot sheep without prejudice to their reproductive condition.