Physical Traits Versus the Buck's Reproductive Abilities

Highly significant correlation (p < 0.001) was found between body weight and chest circumference of the local Katjang and cross-bred (local Katjang ♀ ${\times}$ German Fawn ♂ bucks under study. Increase in body length, chest circumference, depth of chest and height at withers (p < 0.001) reflected significantly the increase in body weight of the bucks. At the same age the cross-breds were bigger than the indigenous breed. No significant correlation was detected between body weight and scrotal circumference, or the latter with sperm counts in both buck types under study. However, the fluid portion of the semen increased in acidity and volume, the latter being significant (P < 0.01) in the local Katjangs, with increase in scrotal circumference. Although the effects of body condition on buck libido of both groups were not significant, the reaction time taken to mount the teaser females were significantly diminished (p < 0.001) with better body condition, at least in the local Katjangs. The reaction time gad an inverse, though not necessarily significant, relationship with semen characteristics such as volume, pH (in local Katjangs, p < 0.05), concentration, color (in cross-breds, p < 0.05), agglutination and mass movements in both phenotypes.