| Abstrakt: |
The aim of the present research was to evaluate the sexual behavior of male sheep during the sexual resting period while exposed to anovulatory females treated with an intravaginal sponge impregnated with progesterone (P4) in northern Mexico. The study took place in northern Mexico (26º N), during the month of March, multiracial rams (n=8, 24–48 mo.) were divided in two homogeneous groups (n=4 each) regarding live weight, body condition score, scrotal circumference and smell, and randomly allocated in two experimental treatments: 1) Males exposed to anovulatory females (n=20) with 20mg of P4 sponges (M20), and 2) Males exposed to anovulatory females (n=20) with 10mg of P4 sponges (M10). Sexual behavior tests were performed in both groups of males by experienced technicians (2 h x 2 d, on days 11 and 12 of the experimental period. Sexual behaviors included flehmen, ano-genital sniffing, approaches and mount attempts. The sexual behavior data was divided in appetitive sexual behaviors [ASB: flehmen, approaches, sniffing (bodily or ano-genital) approaches and vocalizing]; consummatory sexual behaviors (CSB: mount attempts, mounting with erection and mounting with ejaculation). The sexual behavior data were evaluated by X2, using the SYSAT 12.0 statistics program. The largest ASB was shown by the M10 group (64% vs 35%, P0.05) was observed between experimental groups. These findings suggest that males improve their appetitive sexual behaviors (ano-genital sniffing and flehmen), when exposed to ewes treated with 20mg of progesterone. |
