B-mode ultrasound observations of bull testes during breeding soundness examinations

The testes of 78 adult Beefmaster bulls (13 to > 31 mo old) were scanned with a 5 MHz, linear array portable ultrasound unit during routine breeding soundness examinations. Videotape recordings were used to measure mediastinum testis width and fluid width between visceral and parietal tunics (fluid width), and to count the number of fibrotic foci. Ultrasound results were compared to breeding soundness score parameters, which included total score, age classification, and percentage of primary and secondary sperm abnormalities. The overall mean mediastinum testis width and fluid width were 0.33 cm +/- 0.133 and 0.10 cm +/- 0.13, respectively; 15 testes had 1-8 fibrotic foci. There were no significant differences in mediastinum testis width and fluid width between left and right testes when compared by breeding soundness score classification or by age classification. There were no significant differences in mediastinum testis width, fluid width, breeding soundness score, or primary or secondary sperm abnormalities in bulls with fibrotic foci compared to bulls without fibrotic foci. There appears to be no significant information that routine testicular ultrasound examination adds to accepted breeding soundness evaluations performed on the same day.