title: Sexual performance of rams sequentially exposed to short-tailed and fat-tailed ewes.
abstract: The objective of the study was to compare sexual performance of pure and crossbred rams, and to evaluate whether prior exposure of rams to short-tailed females would enhance their mating ability when later exposed to fat-tailed females. Twenty-two virgin, yearling Awassi (A; n = 7), F(1) Charollais x Awassi (CA; n = 7) and F(1) Romanov x Awassi (RA; n = 8) rams were subjected to sexual performance tests on six 20-min occasions. Each ram was individually exposed to two short-tailed oestrous ewes for three 20-min occasions on three consecutive days. Following 1 day of rest, the same 3-day procedure was repeated for each ram with fat-tailed ewes. Leg kicking bout frequency increased in CA and RA rams and decreased in A rams, when they were exposed to fat-tailed compared with short-tailed ewes. No differences in anogenital sniffing were observed among rams exposed to either short-tailed or fat-tailed ewes. However, greater (p < 0.001) anogenital sniffing bouts were recorded, when rams were exposed to short-tailed females. Upon exposure to fat-tailed ewes, CA and RA rams experienced a marked increase in mounting frequency compared with a slight increase in mounting of A rams (p < 0.001). The ability of Awassi rams to raise the fat tail of Awassi ewes was greater (p < 0.001) than CA and RA rams. Mating was improved in A while declining in CA and RA, when they were exposed to fat-tailed compared with short-tailed ewes (p < 0.001). Based on the results of the current study, it seems that all yearling rams were capable of mating with short-tailed ewes, whereas only Awassi rams managed to mate with fat-tailed ewes. It appears that brief exposures of yearling crossbred rams to short-tailed ewes do not improve their mating ability when later exposed to fat-tailed ewes.
authors: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. rkridli@just.edu.jo
authors: R T
authors: RT
authors: Kridli
authors: A Y
authors: AY
authors: Abdullah
authors: M Momani
authors: MM
authors: Shaker
authors: K Z
authors: KZ
authors: Mahmoud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors