Is mare sexual behavior affected by age and can it predict ovulation?

Rocha, CE; de Carvalho, E da Cunha; de Castro, FCGS; de Sena Xavier, ILG; Young, RJ; Palhares, MS; da Silva Filho, JM; Carvalho, RR; da Silva Vasconcellos, A; Valle, GR

Abstract

Although discontinued with the introduction of ultrasonography, the study of mare sexual behavior may provide useful information for herds that lack technical assistance. In order to investigate how mare sexual behavior is associated with ovulation and age, sexual behaviors were recorded for 1,348 teasings of 82 mares during three breeding seasons. From nine days before D-9 until the day of ovulation D0, sexual behaviors were recorded and classified as either estrus-positive or estrus-negative. Estrus-positive behaviors were more frequent, and estrus-negative less frequent, in ovulatory than anovulatory estrus (all P < 0.05, except for Biting). Estrus-positive behaviors increased from D-9 to D-1 and decreased from D-1 to D0 (all P < 0.05), except for Permitting Mount, which increased from D-1 to D0 (P < 0.01). Almost all estrus-negative behaviors decreased from D-9 to D-1 and increased from D-1 to D0 (P < 0.05). A GLM analysis indicated that the older the mare, the earlier she started exhibiting estrus-positive behaviors (all P < 0.01), and ceased estrus-negative behaviors (P < 0.01), except for Vocalizing. The results revealed that: (i) mares with ovulatory estrus and mares with anovulatory estrus exhibit different sexual behaviors; (ii) sexual behavior is influenced by mare age; and (iii) most estrus-positive behaviors increase during estrus and decrease near ovulation, but with the behavior of Permitting Mount increasing around ovulation. These results contribute to understanding equine reproductive biology and may be useful for herds that are not technically assisted by veterinarians.

Citation

Rocha, C., de Carvalho, E. D. C., de Castro, F., de Sena Xavier, I., Young, R., Palhares, M., …Valle, G. (2020). Is mare sexual behavior affected by age and can it predict ovulation?. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 224, 104937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104937

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 20, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 23, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 10, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 21, 2020
• Journal: Applied Animal Behaviour Science
• Print ISSN: 0168-1591
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 224
• Pages: 104937
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104937
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104937
• Related Public URLs: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/applied-animal-behaviour-science/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: AM ** Embargo end date: 10-03-2021 ** From Elsevier via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for AM version of this article starting on 10-03-2021: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ **Journal IDs: issn 01681591 **History: issue date 31-03-2020; published_online 10-03-2020; accepted 20-01-2020; Grant Number: 2008/3363-S2; Grant Number: 2010/5749-S2