Absence of previous sexual experience did not modify the response of anoestrous goats to photo-stimulated bucks in Spring

Abstract

Sexually inexperienced rams display lower frequency of nudging, ano-genital sniffing, mounting attempts, and mounts with intromission than experienced ones. Experienced photo-stimulated males display high level of sexual behaviour. The aim of this study was to determine: i) whether sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males display similar sexual behaviour as the experienced ones, and ii) whether these inexperienced bucks can stimulate sexual response in anoestrous goats, as the experienced ones. Sexually inexperienced and experienced photo-stimulated males (n ¼ 5 each) were used. In April, two groups of anovulatory females (n ¼ 50 each) were exposed to these males for 15 d. Male sexual behaviour was registered for three days, upon their introduction into female groups. On day 1, the inexperienced males displayed higher nudging than the experienced ones (p < .001), whereas on days 2 and 3, the experienced males displayed higher nudging than the inexperienced ones (p < .001). The ano-genital sniffing, mounting attempts, and mounts with intromission did not differ between the inexperienced and experienced groups (p > .05). The proportion of females ovulating did not differ between the two groups (!82 %; p ¼ 1.0). Pregnancy rate (!68 %; p ¼ .829) did not differ between the females exposed to inexperienced or experienced males. It is concluded that sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males show similar sexual behaviour as the experienced ones, and they are able to induce sexual response in seasonally anoestrous goats through the male effect. ARTICLE HISTORY

Variation of sexual behavior of photo-stimulated bucks during the transition from winter to spring in the semi-arid climate of Mexico

“…Besides, the present results agreed with a previous study where the sexual behavior of Morada Nova rams was expressed with more intensity during the mornings (Gonçalves dos Santos et al 2015). In the present study, the frequency of sexual behavior is similar to those displayed by sexually experienced photo-stimulated bucks exposed to anestrous females through the male effect (Bedos et al 2014;Fernández et al 2018). Sexual behavior as nudging and anogenital sniffing are essential components to induce sexual activity in seasonal anestrous does (Loya-Carrera et al 2014; Muñoz et al 2016).…”

“…The present results show that our photostimulated bucks, sexual behaviors such as nudging and anogenital sniffing were negatively affected by the high environmental temperature. These sexual behaviors stimulate female sexual behavior (Fernández et al 2018). In the current study in March and April from 10:00 to 18:00, a THI between 71-77 units was recorded.…”

“…Females were interchanged each 2 h. At the time of entering the buck into the female pen, their sexual behavior was recorded. Each buck was observed individually recording sexual behavior such as anogenital sniffing, nudging, flehmen (Fernández et al 2018), and penis unsheathed (Ungerfel et al 2014).…”

“…In the revised literature, sexual behavior of photostimulated bucks has been recorded only in two intervals of one hour during the day (from 08:00-09:00 and 18:00-19:00) and for the first three or four days of contact between bucks and anestrous females during the non-breeding season (Bedos et al 2014;Muñoz et al 2016;Fernández et al 2018). For example, Bedos et al (2016) reported sexual behavior of bucks in three different periods, during the breeding season, during the sexual season of photo-induction, and during the non-breeding season, the behavior tests were recorded on the same day (from 08:00-12:00 h) by two different days with an interval of 9 days.…”