Agriculture (Jun 2023)

An Enhanced Body Condition Improved Sexual Behavior, Ovarian Structure and Function, and Reproductive Fitness in Rangeland-Crossbred Dairy Goats

  • Francisco G. Veliz-Deras,
  • Cesar A. Meza-Herrera,
  • Angeles De Santiago-Miramontes,
  • Alejandro Santos-Alvarado,
  • Jorge A. Bustamante-Andrade,
  • Jessica M. Flores-Salas,
  • Fernando Arellano-Rodríguez,
  • Miguel Mellado

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071337
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 7
p. 1337

Abstract

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The possible effect of body condition score (BCS) on ovarian function, sexual behavior, (i.e., females and males; appetitive and consummative), estrus, ovulation, and reproductive performance was investigated in crossbred dairy goats under extensive conditions. Based on their BCS, female goats (n = 48) were divided into two experimental groups, either with a low (LG; 1.0 ± 0.2 units; n = 26) or with a high BCS (HG: 2.5 ± 0.9 units; n = 22). Bucks n = 4; cc = 2.5. Female sexual behavior (i.e., acceptance of anogenital sniffing and approach, flight, and tail wagging) was higher in the HG (p p p > 0.05) between the groups in either the follicular diameter or size. Interestingly, although follicular volume, pregnancy rate, kidding rate, and total number of kids born alive were higher in the HG goats (p p p < 0.05). Our research results demonstrate that a higher BCS improves not only the reproductive responses, but also sexual behavior (i.e., female and male). Larger ovarian structures, higher ovulation rates, higher pregnancy and kidding rates, and higher prolificacy were observed in the HG goats managed under a marginal semiarid extensive production system.

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