Influence of nutrition on testicular growth in Corriedale rams during spring

To study the effect of nutrition on spring testicular growth, four adult Corriedale rams were allowed to graze enough to maintain weight (maintenance group), while another four rams, in addition to forage, received a supplemental grain-based ration (increased gradually from 100 to 400 g during the first 5 d and kept at 400 g thereafter) daily for 63 d (supplemented group). Body weight, scrotal circumference, inguinal hyperaemia and testicular consistency were assessed. Blood concentrations of LH and testosterone were measured for 24 h on the day before supplementation began, the day after the animals were fed 200 and 400 g, and 12 and 28 d after animals began to receive the supplement. On these occasions blood contents of non-esterified free fatty acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate were measured when animals were fasting. Supplemented feeding increased body weight within 21 d and scrotal circumference within 35 d (P < 0.01). Scrotal circumference also increased in rams of the maintenance group (P < 0.01) but a lower rate than the supplemented group (P < 0.001). In both groups, testicular consistency and inguinal hyperaemia increased (P < 0.01). In the supplemented group a transient increase (P < 0.01) in LH pulsatility occurred the day after rams had received the full supplement (400 g) and 5 d later (day 12). However, no difference was found in total testosterone release between groups. In conclusion, improved nutrition accelerated the testicular growth in spring, although only a transient increase in LH pulsatility was observed. The scrotal circumference of rams kept on maintenance diet did also increase, which indicates that nutrition is not the only environmental cue responsible for the vernal testicular redevelopment in Corriedale rams.