Studies on effect of mineral supplementation in testicular biometry in prepubertal and pubertal beetal x Assam local male kids*.

Twelve crossbred (Beetal X Assam Local) male kids weighing about 5 kg aged 3 months were divided into two groups, each comprising of six kids. The animals were provided concentrate feed and allowed free grazing during daytime. Mineral mixture at the rate of 2 percent was supplemented in concentrate feed of group I kids only. The mean length of right and left testes increased from 2.70±0.08cm and 2.68±0.08cm respectively in group I kids and from 2.69±0.07cm and 2.69±0.07cm respectively in group II kids at 3 months of age to 6.45±0.13cm and 6.49±0.13 cm in group I kids and 5.98±0.09 cm and 5.96±0.09cm in group II kids, respectively at 10 months of age. At puberty, the mean testicular width for right and left testes in group I was 3.08±0.08cm and 3.08±0.09cm, and group II kids were 3.14±0.05 cm and 3.10±0.04 cm, respectively. At puberty, the mean testicular thickness for right and left testes was 2.72±0.06cm and 2.70±0.07cm in group 1 kids and 2.70±0.09cm and 2.74±0.09 cm in group 2 kids, respectively. The mean scrotal circumference at puberty in group I and group II kids was 14.11±0.21 cm and 14.19±0.14cm, respectively. The mean volume of right and left testes at puberty was 3.91±0.11cm³ and 3.94±0.17 cm³ in group I and 3.96±0.25cm³ and 4.02±0.18 cm³ in group II kids, respectively. The length, width, thickness and volume of right and left testes and scrotal circumference varied significantly (P<0.01) between groups and between periods (age). The interaction between group and period was found to be significant (P<0.01) for scrotal circumference and testicular volume.