Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology
http://www.jabbnet.periodikos.com.br/article/doi/10.31893/2318-1265jabb.v5n2p64-71
Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology
Research Article Open Access

Sexually inexperienced anestrous goats are able to exhibit sexual behaviours exposed to sexually active bucks

Jessica Anabel Loya-Carrera, Sergio Ramírez, Angélica Terrazas, Horacio Hernández, Jesús Vielma, Gerardo Duarte, Ilda Graciela Fernández

Downloads: 0
Views: 1241

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether sexually inexperienced females could display proceptivity and receptivity behaviours as the experienced in the first exposure to males. Three groups of females (n=9 each) were used: i) sexually inexperienced, ii) with complete sexual experience, and iii) with limited sexual experience. Three male goats were subjected to photoperiodic treatment for 2.5 months of long days to stimulate their sexual activity during the natural sexual rest (March-April). During anestrous season, females were exposed to photo-stimulated males. Sexual behaviours were recorded during the first three days post-introduction of the males into female groups, in two daily periods of 20 min each. Sexually inexperienced females and those with complete sexual experience showed higher tail wagging than those with limited sexual experience (P<0.001). Sexually inexperienced females displayed higher female-female sniffing and emission of urine than those groups with complete and limited sexual experience (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). Females with limited sexual experience displayed higher female-female mounts than those groups inexperienced and with complete sexual experience (P<0.05). In addition, females with complete sexual experience displayed higher male-female sniffing than those groups inexperienced and with limited sexual experience (P<0.001). Receptivity behaviour did not differ between female groups (P>0.05). We concluded that sexually inexperienced anestrous females display proceptivity and receptivity behaviours as those sexually experienced exposed to photo-stimulated males.

Keywords

anovulatory does, Capra hircus, male effect, photoperiod, seasonality

References

Abecia JA, Chemineau P, Flores JA, Keller M, Duarte G, Forcada F, Delgadillo JA (2015) Continuous exposure to sexually active rams extends estrous activity in ewes in spring. Theriogenology 84:1549–1555.

Agmo A (1999) Sexual motivation-an inquiry into events determining the occurrence of sexual behavior. Behavioural Brain Research 105:129-150.

Beach FA (1976) Sexual attractivity, proceptivity, and receptivity in female mammals. Hormones and Behavior 7:105-138.

Bedos M, Flores JA, Fitz-Rodríguez G, Keller M, Malpaux B, Poindron P, Delgadillo JA (2010) Four hours of daily contact with sexually active males is sufficient to induce fertile ovulation in anestrous goats. Hormones and Behavior 58:473-477.

Chemineau P (1987) Possibilities for using bucks to stimulate ovarian and oestrus cycles in anovulatory goats-a review. Livestock Production Science 17:135-147.

Chemineau P, Daveau A, Maurice A, Delgadillo JA (1992) Seasonality of oestrus and ovulation is not modified by subjecting female Alpine goats to a tropical photoperiod. Small Ruminant Research 8:299-312.

Chemineau P, Pellicer-Rubio MT, Lassoued N, Khaldi G, Monniaux D (2006) Male-induced short oestrous and ovarian cycles in sheep and goats: a working hypothesis. Reproduction Nutrition Development 46:417–429.

Chojnacki RM, Vas J, Andersen IL (2014) The effects of prenatal stocking densities on the fear responses and sociality of goat (Capra hircus) kids. PLoS One 9:e94253. 

Delgadillo JA, Flores JA, Véliz FG, Hernández HF, Duarte G, Vielma J, Poindron P, Chemineau P, Malpaux B (2002) Induction of sexual activity of lactating anovulatory female goats using male goats treated only with artificial long days. Journal of Animal Science 80:2780-2786.

Delgadillo JA, Gelez H, Ungerfeld R, Hawken PAR, Martin GB (2009) The ‘male effect’ in sheep and goats-Revisiting the dogmas. Behavioural Brain Research 200:304-314.

Delgadillo JA, Leboeuf B, Chemineau P (1991) Decrease in the seasonality of sexual behavior and sperm production in bucks by exposure to short photoperiodic cycles. Theriogenology 36:755-770.

Delgadillo JA, Leboeuf B, Chemineau P (1992) Abolition of seasonal variations in semen quality and maintenance of sperm fertilizing ability by photoperiodic cycles in goat bucks. Small Ruminant Research 9:47-59.

Delgadillo JA, Vielma J, Hernandez H, Flores JA, Duarte G, Fernández IG, Keller M, Gelez H (2012) Male goat vocalizations stimulate the estrous behavior and LH secretion in anestrous goats that have been previously exposed to bucks. Hormones and Behavior 62:525-530.

Dizinno G, Whitney G, Nyby J (1978) Ultrasonic vocalizations by male mice (Mus Musculus) to female sex pheromone: experiential determinants. Behavioral Biology 22:104-113.

Duarte G, Flores JA, Malpaux B, Delgadillo JA (2008) Reproductive seasonality in female goats adapted to a subtropical enviroment persist independently of food availability. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 35:362-370.

Fabre-Nys C, Gelez H (2007) Sexual behavior in ewes and other domestic ruminants. Hormones and Behavior 52:18-25.

Fernández IG, Luna-Orozco JR, Vielma J, Duarte G, Hernández H, Flores JA, Gelez H, Delgadillo JA (2011) Lack of sexual experience does not reduce the responses of LH, estrus or fertility in anestrous goats exposed to sexually active males. Hormones and Behavior 60:484-488.

Flores JA, Véliz FG, Pérez-Villanueva JA, Martínez de la Escalera G, Chemineau P, Poindron P, Malpaux B, Delgadillo JA (2000) Male reproductive condition is the limiting factor of efficiency in the male effect during seasonal anestrus in female goats. Biology of Reproduction 62:1409-1414.

Gelez H, Archer E, Chesneau D, Lindsay D, Fabre-Nys C (2004) Role of experience in the neuroendocrine control of ewes´ sexual behavior. Chemical Senses 29:555-563.

Gelez H, Fabre-Nys C (2004) The “male effect” in sheep and goats: a review of the respective roles of the two olfactory systems. Hormones and Behavior 46:257-271.

Gonyou HW (1991) Behavioral methods to answer questions about sheep. Journal of Animal Science 69:4155-4160.

Haulenbeek AM, Katz LS (2011) Female tail wagging enhances sexual performance in male goats. Hormones and Behavior 60:244-247.

Hawken PAR, Evans ACO, Beard AP (2008) Prior exposure of maiden ewes to rams enhances their behavioural interactions with rams but is not a pre-requisite to their endocrine response to the ram effect. Animal Reproduction Science 108:13-21.

Hemsworth PH (1985) Sexual behavior of gilts. Journal of Animal Science 61:75-85.

Imwalle DB, Katz LS (2004) Divergent roles for estrogens and androgens in the expression of female sexual behavior. Hormones and Behavior 46:54-58.

Llewelyn, CA, Perrie J, Luckins AG, Munro CD (1993) Oestrus in the british white goat: timing of plasma luteinizing hormone surge and changes in behavioural and vaginal traits in relationships to onset of oestrus. British Veterinary Journal 149:171-182.

Loya-Carrera J, Bedos M, Ponce-Covarrubias JL, Hernández H, Chemineau P, Keller M, Delgadillo JA (2014) Switching photo-stimulated males between groups of goats does not improve the reproductive response during the male effect. Animal Reproduction Science 146:21–26.

Lu CD, Potchoiba MJ (1988) Milk feeding and weaning of goat kids-A review. Small Ruminant Research 1:105-112.

Luna-Orozco JR, Fernández IG, Gelez H, Delgadillo JA (2008) Parity of female goats does not influence their estrous and ovulatory responses to the male effect. Animal Reproduction Science 106:352-360.

Luo J, Sahlu T, Cameron M, Goetsch AL (2000) Growth of Spanish, Boer×Angora and Boer×Spanish goat kids fed milk replacer. Small Ruminant Research 36:189-194.

Martin GB, Oldham CM, Cognie Y, Pearce DT (1986) The physiological response of anovulatory ewes to the introduction of rams. A review. Livestock Production Science 15:219-247.

Martin P, Bateson P (2007) Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide, 3rd edn. Cambridge University Press, pp 48-61.

Muñoz AL, Bedos M, Aroña RM, Flores JA, Hernández H, Moussub C, Briefer EF, Chemineau P, Keller M, Delgadillo JA (2016) Efficiency of the male effect with photostimulated bucks does not depend on their familiarity with goats. Physiology & Behavior 158:137-142.

Pfaus JG, Kippin TE, Centeno S (2001) Conditioning and sexual behavior: A review. Hormones and Behavior 40:291-321.

Poindron P, Lévy F, Keller M (2007) Maternal responsiveness and maternal selectivity in domestic sheep and goats: the two facets of maternal attachment. Developmental Psychology 49:54-70.

Price EO (1985) Sexual behavior of large domestic farm animals: an overview. Journal of Animal Science 61:62-74.

Restall, BJ (1992) Seasonal variation in reproductive activity in Australian goats. Animal Reproduction Science 27:305-318.

Rivas-Muñoz R, Fitz-Rodríguez G, Poindron P, Malpaux B, Delgadillo JA (2007) Stimulation of estrous behavior in grazing female goats by continuous or discontinuous exposure to males. Journal of Animal Science 85:1257-1263.

SAGARPA. Norma oficial Mexicana NOM-062-ZOO-1999, Especificaciones técnicas para la producción, cuidado y uso de los animales de laboratorio. Diario Oficial de la Federación, 22 de Agosto 2001. 

Shearer MK, Katz LS (2006) Female–female mounting among goats stimulates sexual performance in males. Hormones and Behavior 50:33-37.

Shelton M (1960) Influence of the presence of a male goat on the initiation of estrous cycling and ovulations of Angora does. Journal of Animal Science 19:368-375.

SYSTAT 13, 2009. Evanston, IL, USA. 

Terrazas A,  Hernández H, Delgadillo JA, Flores JA, Ramírez-Vera S, Fierros A, Rojas S, Serafín N (2012) Undernutrition during pregnancy in goats and sheep, their repercussion on mother-young relationship and behavioural development of the young. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems 1:161-174.

Ungerfeld R, Giriboni J, Freitas-de-Melo A, Lacuesta L (2014) Homosexual behavior in male goats is more frequent during breeding season and in bucks isolated from females. Hormones and Behavior 65:516-520.

Walkden-Brown SW, Restall BJ, Scaramuzzi RJ, Martin GB, Blackberry MA (1997) Seasonality in male Australian cashmere goats: long term effects of castration and testosterone or oestradiol treatment on changes in LH, FSH and prolactin concentrations, and body growth. Small Ruminant Research 26:239-252.


Submitted date:
12/28/2016

Reviewed date:
02/02/2017

Accepted date:
02/20/2017

5f92d2000e88256f05485d90 jabbnet Articles
Links & Downloads

J. Anim. Behav. Biometeorol.

Share this page
Page Sections