Ram Mating Behaviour under Different Social Conditions

M Patel,P S Girish,M C Yadav,N Das,H N Pandey

doi:10.5713/ajas.2007.112

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the attributes of ram sexual behaviour under different social conditions. Six intact rams and eight overiectomized ewes were used in this experiment. Ewes were artificially brought into oestrus. All mating traits were recorded every 10 sec during a 1 h mating session under five social conditions viz., ram exposed to single oestrus ewe, ram exposed to single oestrus ewe and audience ram, ram exposed to multiple oestrus ewes, ram exposed to single oestrus ewe with competitor ram and ram exposed to multiple oestrus ewes with competitor ram. Mean intensity of the mating activities during the 1 h mating session under five social conditions was compared. Either vocalization or leg kicking was found to be the predominant teasing activity under all five conditions. Sniffing differed significantly (p<0.05) between different social conditions. Vocalization, leg kicking, and leg kicking with vocalization did not differ significantly (p<0.05) between different social conditions. Mounts/h in the multiple oestrus ewe condition was higher and differed significantly (p<0.05) from other social conditions. Ejaculations/h for the experimental ram was higher when exposed to multiple oestrus ewes in comparison to other social conditions. Mounts/ejaculation was low in the audience ram condition in comparison to the other four social conditions.

Highlights

Mating, one of the eight social behaviours reported in sheep (Scott, 1945), is a result of the interaction of physiological, neural, genetic, nutritional, climatic and age factors
It is possible that mere presence of a dominant sheep can inhibit mating behaviour of subordinates even without physical contact (Lindsay et al, 1976; Patel et al, 2005)
This study was conducted in the sheep and goat farm of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) with the aim to analyze the factors which affect mating behaviour of rams in a pen mating system

Summary

Introduction

One of the eight social behaviours reported in sheep (Scott, 1945), is a result of the interaction of physiological, neural, genetic, nutritional, climatic and age factors. Several workers have studied normative mating behaviour under pen and field condition. Due to many types of social interactions, mating performance of rams may decrease or increase. Young rams usually show low libido on introduction to a new group (Holmes, 1980). Price et al (1994) reported that rams having lack of exposure to ewes during their early life exhibited poor sexual behaviour. It is possible that mere presence of a dominant sheep can inhibit mating behaviour of subordinates even without physical contact (Lindsay et al, 1976; Patel et al, 2005).

Methods

Results

Conclusion