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Growing without a mother results in poorer sexual behaviour in adult rams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2017

J.P. Damián ,
F. Beracochea ,
S. Machado ,
M.J. Hötzel ,
G. Banchero  and
R. Ungerfeld
J.P. Damián*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
F. Beracochea
Affiliation:
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
S. Machado
Affiliation:
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
M.J. Hötzel
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada e Bem-Estar Animal, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Rodovia Admar Gonzaga, 1346 Florianópolis, SC 88.034-001, Brazil
G. Banchero
Affiliation:
Unidad de Ovinos, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Ruta 50 km 12, La Estanzuela, Colonia 70000, Uruguay
R. Ungerfeld
Affiliation:
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
*
†E-mail: jpablodamian@gmail.com
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if the absence of the mother during rearing has long-term effects on sexual behaviour and physiological reproductive parameters of adult rams. Two groups of rams were: (1) artificially reared, separated from their dams 24 to 36 h after birth (Week 0) and fed using sheep milk until 10 weeks of age (group AR, n=14); and (2) reared by their dams until 10 weeks of age (group DR, n=13). Sexual behaviour (tests of 20 min) and physiological reproductive parameters were analysed separately for the non-breeding (Weeks 42 to 64) and the breeding (Weeks 66 to 90) seasons. Body weight, scrotal circumference, gonado-somatic index, testosterone concentrations or sperm parameters were similar in both rearing conditions (AR v. DR) in both seasons. During the non-breeding season AR rams displayed fewer ano-genital sniffings (AR: 4.2±0.4 v. DR: 5.3±0.4, P=0.04) and matings (AR: 1.2±0.2 v. DR: 1.8±0.2, P=0.002) than DR rams. During the breeding season AR rams displayed fewer ano-genital sniffings (AR: 4.3±0.5 v. DR: 5.7±0.5, P=0.005), flehmen (AR: 0.7±0.2 v. DR: 1.1±0.2, P=0.03), mount attempts (AR: 1.4±0.2 v. DR: 2.1±0.2, P=0.04), and tended to mount less frequently (AR: 6.6±0.9 v. DR: 8.8±0.9, P=0.08) than DR rams. In conclusion, the absence of the mother during the rearing period negatively affected display of sexual behaviour towards oestrous ewes during a rams adult life in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. However, it did not affect testis size, testosterone secretion or sperm variables.

Keywords

sheepmother-offspring bondtestosteronesperm
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 98 - 105
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2017 

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