Studies on intersexuality in milk goats

Abstract

1) The external genital organs of hermaphroditic goats are of various types of abnormality. In most of them, the clitoris project prominently and resemble the glans penis, while the scrotum and body of penis are not present. In some animals, the clitoris are developed so conspicuously as the penis, and the scrotums are found, but they are malformed, while in others the external genital organ is of female type.2) By anatomical observation, in all animals examined, there exist both Mullerian and Wolffian ducts, and their grades of development and differentiation are in accordance with those of the gonads and the other secondary sexual characters. The gonads in them are ovotestis in female type and testis-like in others. Between these two, there are numerous histological deviations. Based on these morphological observation, it can be decided that the hermaphroditic goats are true hermaphroditisms.3) To determine the genetical sex of the intersex, sex-ratio and the frequency of occurrence in litters are calculated. The observed data agree well with the fact that the intersexual goats are female genetically and the frequency of occurrence of intersexual kids between carrier×carrier mating must be 12.5%. Based on these facts, it is concluded that the gene of intersexuality is an autosomal and acts in female only when homozygous.