Factors Affecting Puberty and Sexual Maturity in Male Animals

Factors affecting puberty and sexual maturity in male animals include genetics, nutrition, environment, management, and health status.

The onset of puberty and sexual maturity in males is a gradual process influenced by the plane of nutrition, management, crossbreeding, chronic diseases, individual differences, and other factors.

Nutrition & Management

Poor somatic growth and emaciation which ultimately delays the onset of puberty due to the deficient feeding of protein, iodine, phosphorus, copper, iron, cobalt.

The improved nutrition and good management starting at earlier age enhances the onset of puberty.

Lack of TDN in the feed / animal get starvation leads to prevent the secretion of gonadotropic hormones by the anterior pituitary-result in failure of early puberty.

Body Size and Weight

Body weight is more important role than the age for attaining puberty and sexual maturity. If the individual animal gain less weight according to age factor, the puberty and ultimately sexual maturity will be delayed.

Gonadal Growth

The scrotal circumference is directly proportionate to the intensity of sex desire and spermatozoa production.

Sex Desire

Depending on the available testicular surface area containing number of leydig cells, site of androgen secretion.

Spermatozoal Production

Depending on the available testicular surface area containing number of seminiferous tubule, site for spermatogenesis.

At the age of puberty the diameter of seminiferous tubules is less than the diameter of the seminiferous tubules at the age of sexual maturity.

Genetic

• The genetic components of youngster affect the onset of puberty and maturity.
• The larger breeds of cattle and horses have a late onset of puberty than the smaller breeds.
• The buffalo male calves appear to attain sexual maturity later than the cattle-bull calves even with good nutrition and management; probable due to genetic difference (testicular surface area of buffalo is lesser than cattle).
• The cross breeding causes early puberty and maturity.

Species

Onset of puberty varies with species.

Geographical Location

• The geographical location for rearing of youngsters affects the onset of puberty & maturity.
• If individual animal of one geographical area raised in another geographical area, the puberty will be affected adversely.
• Animals located in tropical regions are late in attaining puberty and sexual maturity.

Season

• There is a close relationship among season of birth, body weight and onset of puberty.
• Winter is favourable for sexual maturity in young bulls used in AI.
• Seasonal influences are there in sheep & buffaloes-hot season delays the onset of puberty.

Hormones

• If hormone (FSH & ICSH) release occurs at earlier age, the puberty and sexual maturity comes earlier.
• If delay the release of hormones leads to delay in the puberty and sexual maturity.

Chronic Disease & Debility

• Any disease which causes emaciation of individual, delay the onset of puberty & sexual maturity. Eg. FMD, Johne’s diseases, TB, mange.
• Chronic diseases indirectly due to elevation of body temperature, disturbances of basal metabolism, thermal stress anorexia, indigestion, stunted growth, emaciation, debility, weakness and endocrinological dysfunction affects the onset of puberty.

Stimulation

• The stimulation of sensory apparatus through CNS by hearing, seeing, smelling of opposite sex, causes early puberty.
• If there is a lack of these stimulation leads to delay the onset of puberty.
• If the male and female are kept together they mature earlier.