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Objetivou-se verificar o estágio de maturidade sexual, a ocorrência do formato testicular e a relação entre características reprodutivas de tourinhos da raça Nelore. Foram utilizados 5.903 touros com média de 21 meses de idade submetidos a exame andrológico entre os anos de 1999 e 2003. Na ocasião do exame, foram registradas as seguintes características: perímetro escrotal (31,99 ± 2,23 cm), comprimentos testiculares esquerdo (11,21 ± 0,98 cm) e direito (11,26 ± 0,97 cm), larguras testiculares esquerda (5,92 ± 0,44 cm) e direita (5,97 ± 0,46 cm), formato testicular, variando de 1 a 5 (1,72 ± 0,46), volume testicular (632,21 ± 132,72 cm³), motilidade espermática progressiva retilínea (69,56 ± 12,31%), vigor espermático (2,87 ± 0,61) e morfologia espermática, com defeitos totais (22,19 ± 11,13%) e maiores (15,86 ± 10,45%) dos espermatozoides. As freqüências dos formatos testiculares foram longo (30,80%), longo-moderado (66,19%), longo-oval (2,49%), oval-esférico (0,02%) e esférico (0,04%). As correlações entre perímetro escrotal e características reprodutivas foram positivas. O perímetro escrotal é uma ótima característica para seleção de touros jovens da raça Nelore, que, na maioria (78,33%), apresentam-se sexualmente maturos aos 21 meses de idade.The objective of this study was to verify the stage of sexual maturity, occurrence of the testicular format and the relationship among reproductive characteristics. Data were used from 5903 Nellore bulls averaging 21 months submitted to the soundness evaluation from 1999 to 2003. At the time of the evaluation, the following characteristics were recorded: scrotal circumference at soundness evaluation (31.99 ± 2.23 cm), left testicular length (11.21 ± 0.98 cm) and right testicular length (11.26 ± 0.97 cm), left testicular width (5.92 ± 0.44 cm) and right testicular width (5.97 ± 0.46 cm), testicular format (1.72 ± 0.46), testicular volume (632.21 ± 132.72 cm³), individual motility (69.56 ± 12.31%), vigor (2.87 ± 0.61), as well as total defects (22.19 ± 11.13%) and major defects (15.86 ± 10.45%) of the spermatozoa. The frequencies of the testicular formats were long (30.80%), long-moderate (66.19%), long-oval (2.49%), oval-spherical (0.02%) and spherical (0.04%). Correlations between the scrotal circumference and the reproductive traits were positive. Scrotal circumference is a good trait for selection of young Nellore bulls. More than 70% of the animals studied are sexually mature at 21 months old.

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