Learning Reproduction in Farm Animals
14-Puberty
Learning Objectives:
To understand what puberty is, how it occurs, when it occurs and what
factors influence it.
Puberty: Onset of reproductive competence,
i.e., both behavior and function.
|
Age at Puberty (months)
|
|
Female
|
Male
|
| Sheep-Goats |
7-10
|
4-6
|
| Swine |
4-7
|
4-8
|
| Cattle |
8-11
|
10-12
|
| Brahman type cattle |
15-18
|
|
| Horses |
15-18
|
13-18
|
Onset of puberty more related to development than age.
|
% Mature weight at puberty |
| Dairy Cattle |
30-40%
|
| Beef cattle |
45-55%
|
| Sheep |
40-60%
|
| |
|
Changes associated with puberty:
Male:
-
Gonocytes located in center of seminiferous tubule.
The migrate to periphery and differntiate into spermatogonia.
-
Spermatogenesis starts.
-
Rapid testicular growth begins.
Female:
Tertiary follicles start to form in prepubescent period.
Hormonal changes in the male.
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