한우의 고환둘레와 정액 생산 및 번식과의 관계를 구명하기 위하여, 농협중앙회 가축개량사업소 보유 종모우 63두의 고환둘레와, 이들의 19,742번의 정액 생산기록(정액량, 농도/ml 및 총정자수) 및 이중 16두가 생산한 1,289두의 자손기록을 이용하였다. 정액량, 정액 농도와 총 정자수 모두 정액채취년도, 정액채취월, 정액 채취 순서에 따라 영향을 받았다(P<0.001). 고환 둘레의 평균은 41.2$pm$4.54cm 이었고, 1회 평균 사정량은 5.47$pm$0.89ml 이었으며, 정액 농도는 16.2$pm$2.78(${ imes}10^8$/ml), 사정당 총정자수는88.47$pm$15.24(${ imes}10^8$)이었다. 고환둘레와 정액량 및 총 정자수 간에는 0.14 및 0.15의 정의 상관을 나타내었으며, 임신율과는 0.39, 출산율과는 0.26의 상관을 나타내었다.
Scrotal measurements and semen production records of 19,742 during 7 years from 63 Hanwoo breeding bulls(6${sim}$7 years of age) were used to determined the relationship between scrotal circumference(SC) and semen production including concentration and total number of sperm. The average of SC is 41.2$pm$4.54cm; extreme ranges between a low of 34cm to a high of 48cm. Quantity of semen, concentration and total number of sperm are 5.47$pm$0.89ml/ejaculation, 16.16${pm}2.78{ imes}10^8$/ml and 88.47${pm}15.24{ imes}10^8$/ejaculation, respectively. SC is positively correlated with semen production(0.14 with quantity of semen and 0.15 with total number of sperm). Reproduction data from 16 breeding bulls produced 1,289 offspring from spring 1993 to spring 2000 to examined relationship between SC and reproduction. Rate of fertility and delivery are 0.80$pm$0.13 and 0.78$pm$0.15, respectively. Also, SC is positively correlated with delivery rate(r=0.26) and favorably related to fertility rate(r=0.39). These results, that is, - SC correlates positively with semen production and with reproduction -, suggested that SC should be considered when selecting breeding bull.
