The effect of early prepubertal castration on the behavior of colts
| Autor: | G.L Heusner, J.B Pope, A.B. Caudle, Sharon L. Crowell-Davis |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1995 |
| Předmět: |
biology
business.industry Aggression medicine.medical_treatment Significant difference Physiology Animal-assisted therapy chemistry.chemical_compound Animal science Pet therapy Castration Food Animals Foal chemistry Sniffing biology.animal Medicine HUBzero Animal Science and Zoology medicine.symptom business |
| Zdroj: | Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 46:135 |
| ISSN: | 0168-1591 |
| Popis: | A total of six colts were castrated (early prepubertal castration, EPC) between 2 days and 2 months of age. A further seven age-matched colts were left intact. Post-weaning, the 13 colts were maintained with seven fillies on a pasture at the University of Georgia’s Beaverdam Farm. At 8 to 10 months each foal was observed during 20 half hour focal samples. There was no significant difference between EPC and intact colts in the rate of partial penile extension. However, there was a significant difference in the rate of full penile extension and erection, with the EPC colts never exhibiting either behavior during focal sample sessions. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the rates of anogenital sniffing, sniffing feces, and approaching another individual. Intact colts had a significantly higher rate of total aggression and head threats. There was no significant difference in the two groups in the rate of the specific aggressive behaviors of bite threat, bite, kick threat and kick. There was also no significant difference in the rate of aggression received, aggression received that was ignored, or aggression given that was ignored by others. In conclusion, at less than 1 year of age, EPC colts exhibit significantly less aggression, full penile extension and erection than intact colts. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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