Olfactory stimulation or inhibition of sexual behavior of stallions in non-breeding season

This study was carried out at National Haras of Tiaret (west of Algeria) to understand and to compare the normal sexual behavior and libido of stallions (Arabian vs Barb) while mounting a mare in estrus. Eighty-four stallions were divided into two groups from 5 to 24 years of age (n=47 Arabian; n=37 Barb). Results revealed significant differences between Arabian and Barb stallion: in sniffing (p less than 0.001), libido score (p less than 0.05), flehmen response (p less than 0.05), time to first mount with erection (p less than 0.05), number of mounts to ejaculation (p less than 0.05) and mount time for ejaculatory (p less than 0.01). These stallions were exactly tested in the same place and conditions allowed us to discard any side effects due to animal management or any other confounding bias. Our study provided us the knowledge of sexual behavior under Algerian environmental conditions and the distinction between Arabian and Barb stallion in their sexual behavior expression.

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Sexual Behavior of Male Northern Elephant Seals: III. the Mounting of Weaned Pups

Behaviour ◽

10.1163/156853991x00436 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 119 (3-4) ◽

pp. 171-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Naomi A. Rose ◽

Burney J. Le Boeuf ◽

Charles J. Deutsch

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behavior ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Low Cost ◽

Elephant Seal ◽

Stimulus Generalization ◽

Mirounga Angustirostris ◽

Northern Elephant Seal ◽

Male Sexual Behavior ◽

Adult Females ◽

Tooth Marks

Abstract1. Up to 50% of weaned northern elephant seal pups, Mirounga angustirostris, present on the Año Nuevo mainland rookery at the end of the breeding season showed evidence (tooth marks and injuries on the neck) of having been mounted by males. 2. Male-inflicted injuries on weanlings ranged from superficial tooth marks to deep gashes and punctures that bled and exposed the blubber. Most marks were superficial. 3. Approximately 0.5 % of all weaned pups died on the rookery from 1969-1990; about 35 % of the dead weanlings showed physical evidence that they were killed by males and males were suspected of having killed most of the rest. 4. Males mounting weanlings displayed many behaviors that are characteristic of male sexual behavior toward adult females and most weanlings responded like non-estrous females. Weanling mounts lasted an average of 2.8 min (N = 81) and were usually terminated when the male did not pursue an escaping weanling. There was no bias in the sex or the size of mounted weanlings. 5. Males also mounted conspecific juveniles (one and two years old), although these interactions were relatively infrequent because most juveniles were at sea during the breeding season. The behavior of males and juveniles during mounting attempts was qualitatively similar to weanling mounts; rarely, yearlings were killed by males. 6. Most mounters (91 %) were subadult males and were observed to mount weanlings only once in a breeding season. Occasionally, a male persisted in mounting weanlings repeatedly, within a season and across years. Weanling mounters did not differ from other males in their proximity to harems or in their copulatory success. 7. The proximate factors leading to weanling mounts appear to be male sexual inexperience, high libido, limited access to adult females, and stimulus generalization. Functionally, male sexual behavior toward weanlings appears to be a low-cost by-product of high male sexual motivation that may enhance a male's reproductive success. Weanlings exhibit behaviors, such as grouping into pods, seeking microhabitat refuges, and resisting mounts, that may reduce the chance of being mounted by a male or of being injured during a mounting attempt.

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Sexual behavior and hormone levels of Kıvırcık ewes after estrus synchronization during and out of the breeding season

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.5194/aab-49-583-2006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 583-592

Author(s):

E. E. Ekiz ◽

M. Ozcan

Keyword(s):

Sexual Behavior ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Sexual Behaviors ◽

Hormonal Changes ◽

Head Turning ◽

Serum Progesterone ◽

Hormonal Responses ◽

Group I ◽

Group Ii ◽

Observation Period

Abstract. The aim of the study was to investigate the sexual behavior and hormonal changes in Kıvırcık ewes synchronized during and out of the breeding season. Feeding, individual and eliminative behaviors of the ewes were also recorded. Group I ewes were synchronized during the breeding season and Group II ewes were synchronized out of the breeding season. At the end of synchronization protocol, ewes were exposed to Kıvırcık rams (day 0, hour 0) and behavioral observations were started. Jugular blood samples were collected at the end of each observation period. Among sexual behaviors, head-turning and non-firm standing were displayed more frequently than soliciting, anogenital sniffing, sniffing scrotum and firm standing in both groups. Squatting and tail-fanning were not observed regularly. Defecation and sexual behaviors did not differ between groups. Group I displayed more lying (P<0.001), standing (P<0.001), and urination (P<0.001) whereas Group II displayed more eating (P<0.001), rumination (P<0.001), drinking (P<0.01) and walking (P<0.001). Estradiol levels around estrus did not differ between groups and showed a wave like pattern. While serum progesterone was at the basal level before and during estrus, it started to increase at 50 h and reached a level >0.5 ng/ml at 122 h in both groups. Estrus onset was 30.0±1.38 and 26.5±2.27 h, for Group I and II, respectively. Estrus duration was 19.0±2.20 and 18.0±2.86 h, for the same groups, respectively. In conclusion, Kıvırcık ewes synchronized during the anestrous period showed similar behavioral and hormonal responses, as in the breeding season.

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