The mating behaviour of rams in a pedigree pen-mating system in relation to breed and fertility

Abstract

Three mature rams in each of four naturalized breeds (Romney, Border Leicester, Cheviot and Dorset Down) and two or three 15-mo-old rams in each of four recently imported 'exotic' breeds (Finnish Landrace, East Friesian, German Whiteheaded Mutton and Oxford Down) were mated to between 14 and 32 Romney ewes in a pedigree pen-mating system at Mana Island, New Zealand. Two or three 60-min observations of mating behaviour were made on each ram. There were no significant differences in mating behaviour scores between groups of breeds, but the mature rams of the naturalized breeds were more fertile than the young rams of the exotic breeds (76% and 57% ewes not returning to first mating respectively). Within the young exotic breed group there were significant differences between breeds in number of serves per test, interval to first mount and fertility. Fertility was negatively correlated with time to first mount.

The Effects of Supplemental Vitamin E on Reproductive Development of Prepubertal Karya Male Lambs

“…Ten minutes were allowed to each animal with one in-heat ewe in the yard during the trial (Crichton et al, 1991;Auclair et al, 1995). Sexual behaviours were recorded with a video camera and recorded activities were evaluated using the techniques described by Winfield and Kilgour (1977), Crichton et al (1991), Perkins et al (1992), Auclair et al (1995) and Godfrey et al (1998). Accordingly, the investigated traits of sexual behaviour were number of flehmen responses (FRE), number of anogenital investigation (sniffing or licking) (SNL), number of rapid lapping of the tongue normally associated with low-pitched vocalizations (tongue flicks) (TF), number of mount attempts (MA), number of mounts with and without ejaculation (mounting) (MO), number of foreleg kicks and nudge with shoulder (kicking and nudging) (KNN), and latency to first mount (LFM, minute) and latency to first ejaculation (LFE, minute).…”

A study of sexual development in ram lambs

“…Libido was tested by introducing the individual ram lamb to a ewe exhibiting oestrus in a 3 m x 3 m pen and recording the following observations over a 20-min period: (a) time taken from introduction to the first mount; (b) number of mounts achieved during the 20-min test period; (c) time taken from first mount to first ejaculation (as defined by Winfield and Kilgour, 1977); and (d) number of ejaculations achieved during the 20-min period. The NR lambs were observed less frequently until after weaning at 3 months of age when close observation was maintained.…”