Abstract
The aim of this work was to determine the role of photoperiod on the control of seasonal horn growth in mouflons. Seven mouflon rams were divided randomly into two groups: Control group (n=3), under natural photoperiod conditions, and long day hold group (n=4) where mouflons were maintained under an artificial photoperiod (15 h light: 9 h dark), during 18 months. Control mouflons showed a strong seasonality in the horn growth, scrotal circumference and testosterone secretion (P< 0.05). The pattern of the testosterone secretion was inversely correlated with the horn growth (P< 0.05), providing support for a possible inhibitory role of this hormone on the horn growth. In long day hold mouflons, the horn growth remained high in the first autumn, and decreased during the second year. The pattern of testosterone secretion showed a high variability, and no individual correlation with the horn growth was found. Ours findings reveal a stimulation effect of the long-day photoperiod on the horn growth, and a photorefractoriness status of the horn growth when the photoperiodic stimuli is maintained during long times.
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