Ram mating performance in Border Leicesters and related breed types. 1. Pen test performance and measures of testis diameter

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
SA Barwick ◽  
RJ Kilgour ◽  
AC Gleeson
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Breed Type ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mating Tests ◽  
Mating Performance ◽  
Related Breed

Sexual activity, serving capacity, mean number of mounts per serve and mean testis diameter were measured in 286 Border Leicester, BLI (a 'high fertility' sheep related to the Border Leicester) and BLI x Border Leicester rams at 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5 years of age. Rams were allowed two 20-minute introductory periods with spayed oestrous ewes, and then were given two 1-h pen mating tests during which their serving capacity (the mean number of serves in the two tests) and mounts per serve were counted. Rams which commenced mounting in introductory or 1-h tests were classed as sexually active. Among 1-5 and 2.5-year-old rams, 68.9 and 65.4%, respectively, were sexually active, while all 3.5-year-old rams were active. Mean testis diameters for inactive rams were smaller (P<0.05) than for active rams in both 1.5- and 2.5-year-old rams. There were breed type differences in activity, serving capacity and mean testis diameter at 1.5 years of age, but not at other ages. BLIs were less active at 1.5 years than other types, but BLIs and Border Leicesters did not differ in either their serving capacity or testis diameter. BLI x Border Leicesters generally had greater (P<0.05) serving capacities and testis diameters than other types, suggesting possible advantages for these rams at early joinings. Sire effects for serving capacity were not significant, but were significant (P<0.05) for mounts per serve, and for testis diameter at 1.5 years old. Activity status was highly repeatable (0.83) between 1.5 and 2.5 years and testis diameter was moderately repeatable (0.41). Repeatabilities for serving capacity and mounts per serve, in active rams, were not significant. Correlations between serving capacity and testis diameter were not significant for active rams, while serving capacity and mounts per serve were generally negatively related. Mean testis diameter was significantly (P<0.05) correlated with liveweight at 1.5 years but not at other ages. Liveweight at 2.5 years was positively (P<0.05) related to mounts per serve and negatively (P<0.05) related to serving capacity.

Annual reproductive rhythm and ovulation rate in four fat-tailed sheep breeds

1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Sefidbakht ◽  
M. S. Mostafavi ◽  
A. Farid
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Monthly Variation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Cycle

ABSTRACTKarakul, Mehraban, Naeini and Bakhtiari sheep were checked twice a day for oestrus using aproned rams and were laparotomized within 5 to 16 h of the end of every second oestrous period. Oestrus was observed for 12 monthly periods commencing on 21 April.The Mehraban breed with 1 -6 oestrous periods per month was less seasonal in its breeding activity (P<0·01) than the other breeds. Four-year-old ewes were more sexually active (P<0·01) than 3-year-old ewes (1·48 v. 1·28 oestrous periods per month). Seasonal variation in the sexual activity of the ewes was observed (P<001); the peak of activity in July to January was followed by a steady decline in February and March to a low in April and May, and then a steep recovery phase in June. There was only limited sexual activity for at least 4 months (March to June).The overall mean cycle length was 17·8 days (14 to 23 days), and the means for the four breeds were 17·6, 17·8, 17·8 and 17·9. The oestrous cycle was longer (P<0·05) during the period from December t o February than during that from June to August.The overall mean duration of the oestrous period was 36·9 h and the means for the four breeds were 35·2, 38·0, 37·4 and 37·1 h, respectively (P<0·05). The duration showed some monthly variation (P<0·01) but did not follow a special seasonal pattern. The ovulation rates for the four breeds were 1·07, 1·13,0·94 and 0·95 respectively, (P<0·01). There was a non-significant decline in the mean ovulation rate from March to June. Right ovaries were more active than left ovaries as judged by the observation of a higher average number of corpora lutea per ewe per laparotomy (0·58 v. 0·43, P<001).

Ram mating performance in Border Leicesters and related breed types. 2. Comparison of the performance of rams that were sexually active and inactive in pen tests

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Kilgour ◽  
SA Barwick ◽  
DG Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Direct Observation ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Mating Performance ◽  
Related Breed

The mating performances of 15 rams which were initially sexually inactive were examined by allowing them constant exposure to three oestrous ewes per day. Two rams did not mount or serve any ewes in 17 days of exposure. When the 13 remaining rams began to raddle ewes their mating performance was compared with that of active rams. Active and inactive rams raddled and inseminated similar numbers of oestrous ewes, suggesting that inactive rams are adequate performers at loads of three oestrous ewes per day once they commence mating. Over a total of 12 h direct observation, however, inactive rams performed significantly fewer mounts and serves than active rams.

scholarly journals Sexual Functioning in Pregnant Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4216
Author(s):  
Anna Fuchs ◽  
Iwona Czech ◽  
Jerzy Sikora ◽  
Piotr Fuchs ◽  
Miłosz Lorek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Function ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Functioning ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Polish Version ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
The Mean

Sexual activity during pregnancy is determined by emotional, psychosocial, hormonal, and anatomical factors and varies during trimesters. This work aimed to establish women’s sexual activity during each trimester of pregnancy. A total of 624 women were included in the study and filled in the questionnaire three times, once during each trimester of pregnancy. The first part of the survey included questions about socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, and medical details of a given pregnancy. The second part was the Polish version of the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire. Comparison of the mean scores for the overall sexual function of each trimester revealed clinically relevant sexual dysfunction in the second and third trimesters (mean values 25.9 ± 8.7 and 22.7 ± 8.7, respectively; p < 0.01). Women were most sexually active during their second trimester. In the first trimester of pregnancy, women were most likely to choose intercourse in the missionary position. Women with vocational education were characterized by the lowest and homogenous FSFI values. Total FSFI score depended on the martial status—the highest value pertained to married women (25.2 ± 6.9; p = 0.02).

scholarly journals Older Adult Sexuality, Partnership, and Health: Cohort Comparisons of Baby Boomers and Traditionalists

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 499-499
Author(s):  
Winnie Tong ◽  
Linda Waite
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Baby Boomers ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Diabetes Diagnosis ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Partnership Status ◽  
Older Adult Sexuality

Abstract This paper updates prior work on older adult sexuality, partnership, and health by examining the most current wave of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (2015-16), a population-based study of health and social factors on a national scale. Comparing data from Wave I, Cohort 1 (2005-06) and Wave I, Cohort 2 (2015-16), we ask whether there are differences in partnership, sexual behaviors and health outcomes between two cohorts (‘Traditionalists’ vs. ‘Baby Boomers’). Additionally, we examine whether sexual frequency is related to physical health, particularly the health conditions of arthritis, diabetes, cognitive impairment, and prior stroke, in both cohorts. We find significant differences between cohorts through a logistic model. For Traditionalists, age, gender, education level, partnership status and diabetes were all significantly related to sexual activity (p &lt; 0.001). Older adults were less sexually active; men were more sexually active; the higher educated were more sexually active; diabetes patients were less sexually active; and partnered were more sexually active. For Baby Boomers, only age and partnership status were significantly related to sexual activity (p &lt; 0.001); gender and diabetes diagnosis were also related (p &lt;0.005). Significantly, partnership status for Boomers is negatively related to sexual activity; the other three relationships – age is related to less sexual activity, men have slightly higher sexual activity, and diabetes was related to less sexual activity – were as expected. Importantly, our findings may imply that partnership or marriage is not as significant to sexual activity, or to health outcomes, as previously believed.

scholarly journals Emotional Bonding and Sexual Activity During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-National Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 263183182110274
Author(s):  
Deblina Roy ◽  
Sujita Kumar Kar ◽  
SM Yasir Arafat ◽  
Pawan Sharma ◽  
Russell Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Emotional Bonding ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Study Participants

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures have affected the sexuality and emotional bonding among the couple across the world. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on the married people’s emotional bonding and sexual relationships in 3 south Asian counties (Bangladesh, India, and Nepal). Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Bangladesh, India, and Nepal residents from April 3 to April 15, 2020. The survey was designed in English. The participants were selected through convenience sampling technique, the link of the online questionnaire was shared with the participants. Only participants older than 18 years and above, married, and living with their spouses were included in the study. Results: A total number of 120 respondents were included finally for analysis from the participating countries (India, Nepal, and Bangladesh). The mean age of the participants was 35.42 (±5.73) years; the majority were males under the age of 40 years and had completed postgraduation as their qualification. Among the study participants, more than half (53.8%) of the women reported being sexually active during the lockdown, whereas 41% of the men reported being sexually active. Among the sexually active participants, most women (57.7%) reported that they perceived positive emotional bonding with their partners. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference observed when compared with men. There are variations in responses. However, no significant association was identified. Conclusion: There are a few insights from the study, that is, there was no significant difference found in almost 3 countries in emotional intimacy. There had been a trend that there is improved emotional bonding with their partners, although no significant difference was observed.

First calving performance of beef cattle. 1. Effects of moderate and slow growth between weaning and joining at 15 months of age

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
DJ Barker ◽  
PJ May ◽  
CA Morris ◽  
PER Ridley
Keyword(s):  
Slow Growth ◽  
High Fertility ◽  
Mediterranean Environment ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Target Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Calving Rate ◽  
Improved Pasture ◽  
Calving Performance

In each of 4 years, Shorthorn and Dairy x Shorthorn heifers were fed for moderate (55 to 101 kg) or slow (1 7 to 50 kg) growth from weaning at 7 months until joining at 15 months of age. Thereafter they grazed together on improved pasture in a 430 mm rainfall Mediterranean environment. Their performance was compared until their second calving and their calves' performance until weaning. The heifers that had grown moderately prior to their first joining had 25 to 73 kg higher average liveweight and 3 to 7 mm higher ultrasonic backfat reading during first joining, a 9% higher calving rate, 14 kg higher average liveweight but a 10% lower dystokia rate at calving, and 12 kg higher average liveweight and 1 mm higher ultrasonic backfat reading at their second joining, than those that had grown slowly. Survival of dams and calves, date of first calving, calf birth weight, second calving rate, intercalving interval and date of second calving were not significantly affected by the rate of growth prior to first joining. The effect upon dams' weight at weaning (moderate 11 kg higher than slow) was significant only at P< 0.1. Most aspects of performance differed widely amongst years, but significant year x growth interactions were only found for liveweight and condition of heifers at first joining, and for weaning weight of calf. The calves of moderately-grown heifers were of significantly lower mean weaning weight than those of the slowly-grown heifers, but only in those years when the mean mid-joining weight of the moderately grown heifers exceeded 315 kg. It is suggested that high fertility and satisfactory first calf growth are not incompatible provided that growth between the heifers' weaning and first joining is limited to that which results in a mean mid-joining liveweight not more than 20 kg higher than the target weight for 90% calving.

scholarly journals The olfactory secretome varies according to season in female sheep and goat

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul CANN ◽  
Malika CHABI ◽  
Aliénor DELSART ◽  
Chrystelle LE DANVIC ◽  
Jean-Michel SALIOU ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Seasonal Breeding ◽  
Proteomics Data ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Post Translational Modifications

Abstract Abstract: Background : Small ungulates (sheep and goat) display a seasonal breeding, characterised by two successive periods, sexual activity (SA) and sexual rest (SR). Odours emitted by a sexually active male can reactivate the ovulation of anoestrus females. The plasticity of the olfactory system under these hormonal changes has never been explored at the peripheral level of odours reception. As it was shown in pig that the olfactory secretome (proteins secreted in the nasal mucus) could be modified under hormonal control, we monitored its composition in females of both species through several reproductive seasons, thanks to a non-invasive sampling of olfactory mucus. For this purpose, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-E), western-blot with specific antibodies, MALDI-TOF and high-resolution (nano-LC-MS/MS) mass spectrometry, RACE-PCR and molecular modelling were used. Results : In both species the olfactory secretome is composed of isoforms of OBP-like proteins, generated by post-translational modifications, as phosphorylation, N-glycosylation and O -GlcNAcylation. Important changes were observed in the olfactory secretome between the sexual rest and the sexual activity periods, characterised in ewe by the specific expression of SAL-like proteins and the emergence of OBPs O- GlcNAcylation. In goat, the differences between SA and SR did not come from new proteins expression, but from different post-translational modifications, the main difference between the SA and SR secretome being the number of isoforms of each protein. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD014833. Conclusion : Despite common behaviour, seasonal breeding, and genetic resources, the two species seem to adapt their sensory equipment in SA by different modalities: the variation of olfactory secretome in ewe could correspond to a specialization to detect male odours only in SA, whereas in goat the stability of the olfactory secretome could indicate a constant capacity of odours detection suggesting that the hallmark of SA in goat might be the emission of specific odours by the sexually active male. In both species, the olfactory secretome is a phenotype reflecting the physiological status of females, and could be used by breeders to monitor their receptivity to the male effect.

The relation between mating activity of rams in pens and subsequent flock mating performance

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (102) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Kilgour ◽  
RG Whale
Keyword(s):  
Mating Test ◽  
Mating Activity ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Mating Tests ◽  
Mating Performance

The serving activity of seven rams in one 20-minute pen mating test followed by two one-hour pen mating tests was recorded. The mating performance of each ram during a single-sire flock mating was subsequently monitored. Mean number of services in the two one-hour pen tests gave the best prediction of the number of ewes inseminated during flock mating (r = 0.88, P < 0.01). The number of services in the 20-minute test gave a poor prediction of the number of ewes inseminated (r = 0.30). The total number of services during the first 20-minutes of the two one-hour tests (2x20-minute tally), the number of services during the 20-minute test and the first 20 minutes of the first one-hour test (2 x 20-minute tally) and the number of services during the 20-minute test and the first 20 minutes of the two one-hour tests (3x20-minute tally) were only moderately correlated with number of ewes inseminated (r = 0.67, r = 0.47 and r = 0.64, respectively). These results explain why other workers, using combinations of 20-minute tests, have failed to demonstrate a relationship between pen mating tests and flock fertility. The results further show that a measure of the serving activity of rams in pens can be used to identify rams that are capable of mating large numbers of ewes, and that the development of a commercially applicable test is worthwhile.

The Sexual Behaviour of the Blowfly, Protophormia Terrae-Novae R. -D

Behaviour ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.A. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Sex Attractant ◽  
Sex Discrimination ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Encounter Rate ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Male Courtship ◽  
Horizontal Vibration ◽  
Reduced Rate

AbstractIn P. terrae-novae the male courtship behaviour begins with a run towards the female followed by mounting, orientation, and copulation. Male sexual activity begins on the second day after adult emergence if supplied with a solution of "Marmite" yeast extract and milk, sugar, and water. No reactions to a volatile sex attractant could be demonstrated from either sex. Other males are equally effective as females in eliciting "encounters" from sexually active males, and the encounter rate of males in isolated all male cultures is the same as that of males in the presence of attractive females. Though attractive females do not affect the male behaviour before contact they elicit an increased chance of completion of the pattern after encounter, whereas bouts with other males tend to break off in the early stages of courtship. Sexual behaviour directed towards newly emerged individuals of either sex is inhibited relative to that directed towards other sexually active males. The males from mixed-sex cultures gradually become attractive to other males, which respond to them as if they were attractive females. This may be due to their contamination with a female pheromone of the "mounting stimulant" type. Though males fed only on sugar and water showed a vastly reduced rate of sexual activity, their mechanism of sex discrimination remained unimpaired. In cultures with active males, newly emerged females become attractive and mate on the second day after adult emergence. About 4% of the attacks by males on pairs in copula result in a clnange of copulating male. After copulation females reject any further attention from males by horizontal vibration of their wings across the abdomen. This reduces the duration of mounting and prevents genital contact, otherwise mated females are as attractive as virgins. The female vibration response is elicited mainly on mounting, especially after orientation, but never before contact by the male. Males reject courtship with a "pushing" of the hind legs as in cleaning. This operates when a mount persists, and though the chances of orientation and genital extension are reduced the chance of mounting is not.

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