Social isolation does not inhibit sexual behaviour and testosterone secretion in sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated bucks in contact with seasonally anoestrous goats

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine: (i) whether sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed individually in pens display less intense sexual behaviour than sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in a group, and (ii) whether these treatments vary the sexual response in anoestrous goats. Five males were housed either individually in pens (2 × 2 m) or together in a pen (5 × 6 m) and received artificially long days (16 h/light/day/2.5 months). Males were exposed to females (n = 50/group) for 15 days. Plasma testosterone did not differ between males. Male sexual behaviour was recorded on days 0-2 after introduction to females. On days 0-2, nudging was higher in males in group than those individual. On days 0 and 2 anogenital sniffing were higher in males in group, on day 1 was similar between males. Mounting attempts were similar between groups. On day 1 mounts with intromission did not differ but on day 2 were more in males in group. On day 0 self-urination were more in males in group, but on days 1 and 2 were similar between groups. On day 0 flehmen were more in males individually but on days 1-2 were similar between groups. Interval increases the words to first oestrus differ significantly between females, whereas ovulatory responses were similar. Thus, sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed individually showed less sexual behaviour that those photo-stimulated housed in group but did not show reduced ability to induce ovulatory responses in anoestrous females; these responses resembled those induced by group-housed males.Highlights Plasma testosterone concentration is high in sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in group or individually during the rest sexual. Sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in group or individually display sexual behaviour in spring. Sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in group or individually induce sexual response in anoestrous female goats.

Keywords

• goats
• sexual experience
• male effect
• seasonality