COMPUTER-ANALYSIS OF VIDEO AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC IMAGES FOR EVALUATIONOF BULL TESTES

The objectives of this study were to determine relationships between s crotal size (SC; estimated from a video image) and testicular size, an d between ultrasonographic echotexture of the testis and seminiferous tubule area in bulls. Video images of the scrotum of 49 Holstein-Fries ian (H-F) bulls were recorded and digitized. Scrotal width and length were measured with custom software. After slaughter, scrotums(containi ng testes) were excised, SC and testicular height, width and volume we re measured, and the testes were examined ultrasonographically. Correl ations between SC and testicular width or volume (r=0.86, P<0.001 and r=0.84, P<0.001, respectively) were much higher than those between scr otal width and testicular width or volume (r=0.23, P<0.11 and r=0.28, P<0.06). Histological examination of the testes was performed in 31 of the bulls. Ultrasonographic echotexture of the testes (determined wit h custom software) was highly correlated (r=-0.5, P<0.005) with semini ferous tubule area. Although SC was superior to video imaging for esti mating testicular size, ultrasonographic imaging of the testes has con siderable potential for the evaluation of testicular function in bulls . (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.