Efeito da Idade e de Fazenda Sobre as Características Seminais e Perímetro Escrotal em Touros da Raça Guzerá Criados no Norte e Noroeste do Rio de Janeiro/Brasil*

Resumo

The aim of this study as to evaluate effect of age and farm factors on seminal characteristics, scrotal circumference and body weight in Guzera bulls. Guzera bulls used varied from 24 to 72 months old, the animals were created in 04 different farms in the north and northwest region of Rio de Janeiro State. Initially it was evaluated young bulls from 12 to 20 months old, however these males were sexually immature and their semen presented low quality and oligospermic. After data was colleted, analysis of variance have been carried out to evaluate effect of age and farm factors. It was observed interaction effect of age-farm. The semen improved in quality and quantity in animals from 24 to 36 months old also scrotal circumference increased. Differences in semen quality and quantity weren’t so evident in older bulls (more than 36 months old). Body weight increased from 24 to 72 months old, however it increased sharply from 24 to 48 months old. Regarding effects of farm, it was observed that the rate of all evaluated characteristics varied from one farm to the other in most of the studied characteristics. The obtained results suggest that seminal characteristics, scrotal circumference and body weight in Guzera bulls created in the north and northwest region of Rio de Janeiro State could be influenced by climatic conditions, management practice and animal age.