Sheath and mating ability measurements and their interrelationships in Santa Gertrudis bulls

Abstract

Santa Gertrudis bulls were asessed for sheath characteristics which may influence their performance in a serving capacity test. There was a poor relationship between sheath depth and width and the number of mounts and serves that a bull achieves. Of the traits recorded the 'rosette score' ( conformation of the umbilicus) was negatively correlated with serving ability. The mean number of effective serves was 0.9, 1.5 and 1.4 for 2yr and 3 yr old bulls respectively.