Plasmatic testosterone levels during the puberty of Moxoto male goats

The objective of this study was to characterize the puberty process of Moxo to male goat, a regional breed. Six kids were used in this experiment in wh ich the following variables were measured: between birth weight, scrotal ci rcumference, reaction to female in estrus, and penis detachment from the pr epuce. It was determined the plasmatic levels of testosterone on 10th, 18th , 22nd, and 28th weeks. With 217 days old, the animals were slaughtered and their testis were hystologically analyzed. The covariance analyses showed a positive and significant (P<0.01) correlation between birth weight, weekl y weight, scrotal circumference and age with testosterone levels. The penis detachment showed a positive and significant (P<0.01) correlation with the scrotal circumference and age. The reaction to female in estrus showed to be positive and significantly (P<0.01) correlated with birth weight, weekly weight, scrotal circumference, testosterone levels, penis detachment from the prepuce and age. The animals that released the penis showed all cells o f the spermatogenesis process, while those that did not showed high prevale nce of spermatides. It is concluded that plasmatic testosterone is involved in the beginning of the puberty process, and that the penis detachment fro m the prepuce can be used as criteria to determine the sexual precociousnes s of male Moxoto goats.