Effects on Herd Efficiency of Sexual Experience and Behavioral Characteristics of Saanen X Hair Male Goat Based On Age

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of bucks’ sexual experience on the mating performance of does. Therefore, experienced bucks with high mating efficiency and sexual experience must be included in the mating program to increase herd fertility. 
 Material and Methods: Fifteen sexually inexperienced young bucks were housed individually in pens with six estrus synchronized does. Ninety female Saanen x Hair does, divided into 15 groups of 6 were used in the experiment. Data was collected through direct observation and by use of closed-circuit cameras same time term for two years. Sexual behavior characteristics of bucks such as: number of times mounted, time taken to mount, number of ejaculations, ejaculation time, mating efficiency, courtship behavior and effects of mating behaviors on fertility rate of does were evaluated. Mating efficiency scores of bucks and the pregnancy and the fertility rate of does were calculated in the first, and second years. Paired samples t test was performed to determine differences between the years and correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between the variables for each year. Arcsine transformation was applied to data obtained by percentage. To determine the relationship between the variable sets, canonical correlation analysis was applied to the transformed data.
 
 Results: In the first year, litter size and fertility rate were found to be 1.26 and 21%, respectively. In the second year, these increased to 2.93 and 69%, respectively. Mating efficiency scores of bucks for the first and second year was calculated as 0.10 and 0.60, respectively. Results showed that the experienced mature bucks had a very significant effect on the mating performance of the doe and, consequently, on herd productivity.
 
 Conclusion: Sexual performance traits in bucks affect the conception rate of does. By observing changes in the rates of sexual behaviors, the achievement of mating with timely intervention can be increased. It is recommended to evaluate the sexual behavior of bucks, testicular measurements and semen characteristics together.