Modulation of sexual behavior of Morada Nova ewe by the season of the year in a semiarid equatorial environment
Edilson Paes Saraiva, Luana de Fátima Damasceno dos Santos, Dermeval Araújo Furtado, Edgard Cavalcanti Pimenta Filho, Tarsys Noan Silva Veríssimo, Natanael Pereira de Arruda, Leonardo Santos Silva, Severino Guilherme Caetano Gonçalves dos Santos, Geni Caetano Xavier Neta, Larissa Kellen da Cunha Morais, José Danrley Cavalcante dos Santos
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the effect of the season on the sexual behavior patterns adopted by Morada Nova sheep in the Brazilian semiarid region. A total of 55 and 59 female sheep were used in the rainy and dry seasons, respectively, attended by four males of the same breed in rotation. The females identified in oestrus were released in a pasture, together with the breeder of the day for each season, and aspects of sexual behavior were measured for an uninterrupted period of 11 hours/day. Assuming a negative binomial distribution, the behavioral frequencies were subjected to deviation analysis and compared using the chi-square. Heading in the male was observed more frequently during the rainy season (0.12) and shifts with higher temperatures; the turn of the head in relation to the man was observed more frequently during the dry season (2.49). The interactions between seasons and shifts significantly affected the following behaviors: sniffing the male, sniffing the male's urogenital region, wagging the tail, lifting the tail, and urinating. Behavioral variables were influenced by the season. Morada Nova sheep reduce their water intake and grazing time to engage more efficiently in reproductive activities, thus demonstrating an ability to adapt to the Caatinga.
Keywords
References
Aké-Villanueva JR, Aké-López JR, Magaña-Monforte JG, Segura-Correa, JC (2019) Reproductive behavior in hair sheep rams under tropical conditions. Tropical Animal Health Production 51:1627-1635.
Barbosa OR, Da Silva RG (1995) Índice de conforto térmico para ovinos. Boletim de Indústria Animal 52:29-35.
Beach FA (1976) Sexual attractivity, proceptivity, and receptivity in female mammals. Hormones and Behavior 7:105-138.
Buffington DE, Collazo-Arocho A, Canton GH, Pitt D, Thatcher WW, Collier RJ (1981) Black-globe-humidity index (BGHI as comfort equation for dairy cows). Transaction of the ASAE 24:711-714.
Campos FS, Gois GC, Vicente SLA, Macedo AD, Matias ADS (2017) Alternativa de forragem para caprinos e ovinos criados no semiárido. NutriTime 14:5004-5013.
Vianna E (2007) Comportamento e eficiência reprodutiva. Revista Brasileira de Reprodução Animal 31:177-182.
Côté SD Festa-Bianchet M (2001) Reproductive success in female mountain goats: the influence of age and social rank. Animal Behaviour 62:173-181.
De Araujo GGL, Voltolini T, Turco S (2011) A água nos sistema de produção de caprinos e ovinos. Embrapa Semiárido –ALICE.
De Sousa RT, Gonçalves JDL, Fonteles NDO, Dos Santos CM, Dela Ricci G, Albuquerque FD, Bomfim MAD (2015) Características reprodutivas de ovelhas Morada Nova e Somalis Brasileira. Embrapa Caprinos e Ovinos – ALICE.
Ferraz MR (2011) Manual do comportamento animal. Rubio, Rio de Janeiro.
Fonsêca VF, Saraiva EP, Arruda MF, Pereira WE, Pimenta Filho EC, Santos SG, Silva JA (2016) Mother-offspring relationship in Morada Nova sheep bred in a tropical semiarid environment: A perspective on maternal investment and parental conflict. Applied Animal Behavior Science 183:51-58.
Gill W (2008) Applied sheep behavior. Agricultural Extension Service. Available: http://animalscience.ag.utk.edu/sheep/pdf/appliedsheepbehavior-wwg-2 04.pdf. Accessed 18 March 2020.
Gomes WR, Butler WR, Johnson AD (1971) Effect of elevated ambient temperature on testis a blood levels and in vitro biosynthesis of testosterone in the rams. Journal Animal Science 3:804-807.
Köppen W (1936) Das Geographische system der Klimatologie. Berlim, Borntrager.
Llewelyn CA, Perrie J, Luckins AG (1993) Oestrus in the British white goat: timing of plasma luteinizing hormone surge and changes in behavioural and vaginal traits in relationship to onset of oestrus. British Veterinary Journal 149:171-182.
Martin GB, Hötzel MJ, Blache D, Walkden-Brown SW, Blackberry MA, Boukhliq R, Miller DW (2002) Determinants of the annual pattern of reproduction in mature male Merino and Suffolk sheep: modification of responses to photoperiod by an annual cycle in food supply. Reproduction Fertility Development14:165-175.
National Research Council (1985) Nutrients Requirements of Sheep. NRC, Washington, DC.
Nogueira DM, Eloy A, De Sá CO , Lopes Júnior ES, Figueiredo HOS, Sá JL, Sousa PHF (2011) Manejo reprodutivo.Embrapa Semiárido-Artigo em anais de congresso (ALICE). Petrolina: Embrapa Semiárido.
Ola SI, Egbunike GN (2004) Behavioural and morphological attributes of oestrus in West African dwarf does under different physiological states. Livestock Research Rural Development 16:10-15.
Pacheco A, Quirino CR (2010) Comportamento em ovinos.Revista Brasileira de Produção Animal 34:87-97.
Pereira CCJ (2005) Fundamentos de Bioclimatologia Aplicados à Produção Animal. FEPMVZ, Belo Horizonte.
Roll VFB, Rech CDS, Xavier EG, Rech JL, Rutz F, Del Pino, FAB (2006) Comportamento animal: conceitos e técnicas de estudo. UFPel, Pelotas.
Rosa HJD, Bryant MJ (2002) The “ram effect” as a way of modifying the reproductive activity in the ewe. Small Ruminant Research 45:1-16.
Santos SGCGD, Saraiva EP, Pimenta EC, Santos LDFDD, Fonsêca VFC, Veríssimo TNS, Pinheiro ADC (2015) Seasonal and circadian variation of the sexual behavior of Morada Nova rams in tropical environment. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 44:8-14.
Saumand J, Rouger V (1972) Variations saisonniere de tax d'androgeneses dans le plasma du sang peripherique. CR Academic Science 274:89-92.
Sejian V, Maurya VP, Kumar K, Naqvi SMK(2012) Effect of multiple stresses (thermal, nutritional, and walking stress) on the reproductive performance of Malpura ewes. Journal Veterinary Medicine Science 2012:471760.
Stellflug JN, Lewis GS (2007) Effect of early and late exposure to estrual ewes on ram sexual performance classifications. Animal Reprodution Scence 97:295-302.
Traldi AS (2005) Manejo da reprodução em caprinos: Situação atual e perspectivas. Espírito Santo do Pinhal.
Villarroel ABS, Fernandes AAO (2000) Reproductive performance of Morada Nova Tropical hair sheep in Ceara state, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal.
Submitted date:
08/17/2021
Reviewed date:
09/17/2021
Accepted date:
09/17/2021
Facebook
Google+
Twitter
LinkedIn
Mendeley
StumbleUpon
CiteULike
Reddit
Email