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The scrotum, testes, and spermatic cord should be examined carefully for fluid, fibrotic tissue, size, symmetry, shape, and texture. The scrotum should be examined for scars and its ability to extend or stretch to allow the testicles to cool. The testes should be palpated and have the texture of meat and be freely moveable within the scrotum. Any fibrotic or swollen areas should be noted. The epididymides should be palpated from the head dorsally, down the body, ventrally to the tail, for abnormalities such as epididymitis or fibrosis. The spermatic cord is palpated from the external inguinal ring distal to the testicle for abnormalities such as hernias, hematomas, fibrosis, or fluid. The external prepuce should be observed and palpated for abscesses and swellings, as well as hematoma of the penis directly anterior to the scrotum. Problems identified during scrotal examination can include scrotal skin lesions such as frostbite, dermatitis, scrotal edema, and blood warts. There are several normal variations of scrotal shape and testicular positioning within the scrotum. Thus, the presence of hydroceles and hematoceles as well as inguinal hernias must be ruled out in bulls with aberrances in scrotal size and shape [2, 5].

Ancillary testing utilizing ultrasound or thermography, although usually not necessary to classify a bull by the SFT standards, can be useful to further investigate abnormalities discovered during the physical examination [2].