Ram mating behaviour under different social conditions

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.