Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Image courtesy : USDA ARS Image Library
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Importance of Sexual Behavior
• Without reproduction, life would come to an end!
• In production situations, it is economically important to have “good breeders”.
• We must control both desirable and undesirable sexual behaviors in domestic
animals.
Image courtesy : USDA ARS Image Library
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Factors Affecting Sexual Behaviors
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Genetic factors
• Sex is Genetically determine
• Mammals: Male- XY
• Mammals: Females –XX
• Birds?
• Without androgenic stimulation
• Female behavior
• No male genitalia
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Perinatal hormone influences
• Sex hormones play an important role in sexual behavior
• Neonatal androgens “defeminize” males
Testosterone Estrogen
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Adult Hormonal Status
• Hormones have a permissive role in adult animals.
• Normal sexual behavior requires a certain level of hormones.
• Varying administrations of estrogen and progesterone will elicit estrous
behavior.
• Sexual behaviors can be altered by castration
• Experience affects castration effects
• Anatomical problems
• Inability to mate
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Anatomical Factors
Penile spines • Absence of spine
of intact tom
cat • Inability of intromission
• Will not induce ovulation
Neutered male
cat: no spines
Photo courtesy: [Link]
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Effects of Castration
Grunt & Young, 1952
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Previous Social and Sexual Experience
• Lack of sexual experience can have a greater influence than hormonal
imbalance
• Raised in isolation (Lack of socialization)
• Inhibit sexual behavior
• Dog do not mount
• No prior experience, excessive experience, homosexual only experience, or
very unpleasant experience can all lead to sexual behavior problems.
• External environment
• High temperature
• Slippery floor
• Time of day
• Stress
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Attractiveness of Potential Mate
• Based on innate preferences
and past experience
• Direct selection
• Arbitrary mate choice
• Good Genes
Image courtesy : USDA ARS Image Library
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Central Nervous System Control of Female Sexual Behavior
• In proestrus, the
feedback loop is
reversed from Gonadotropin Releasing Factor
negative to positive.
• Increased estrogen is Luteinizing Hormone
responsible for estrus
behavior. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
• The resulting LH surge
induces ovulation.
Photo courtesy: [Link]
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Central Nervous System Control of Male Sexual Behavior
Photo courtesy: [Link]
Figure 4.3
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Estrous Cycle Variations
• Spontaneous ovulators: Ovulation occurs on a regular cycle (bitch, ewe,
mare, sow, cow)
• Induced ovulators: Vaginal stimulation is required for ovulation (queen,
rabbit)
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Cattle
• Intact males = bulls
• Castrated males = steers
• Intact, breeding female = cow
• Pre-pubertal female = heifer
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Cow: Estrous Cycle
• The cow is a non-seasonal, continuously cycling breeder.
• Puberty typically occurs between 6 and18 months.
• The estrous cycle is 18 to 24 days in length.
Photo courtesy: [Link]
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Cow: sexual behavior
• Increase in activity
• Increase vocalization
• Decrease food intake
• Flehmen, rubbing, leaking
• Chin resting
• Mounting
• Approach the bull
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Heat detection
• Pedometer
• Heat patch
• Behavior observation
• Vaginal secretion
• Vulva relaxation
• Mounting
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Clinical Problems of Cattle
• Silent heats
• Nymphomania
• Freemartin
• Buller Steer Syndrome
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Bull sexual behavior
• Courtship
• Grazing with cow
• Guarding the cow
• Liking sow vulva
• Mounting (no intromission)
• Head on the back
• Ejaculation within seconds after intromission
• Masturbation
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Clinical Problems of Bulls
• Inadequate libido
• Bulling
Image courtesy: [Link]
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Sheep
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Ewe sexual behavior
• Poly-estrus seasonal breeders
• Cycle is every 16 days
• Estrus 30 hours
• Puberty 4 month
• Tropical areas
• Ram effect
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Ewe sexual behavior
• Starts the courtship
• Following the ram
• Sniffing males’ body and genitals
• Standing heat and tail waging
• Occurs at night
• Preference for a Ram
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Ram sexual behavior
• Social determine
• Sniffing females genitals, Flehmen
• Ritualize kicking
• Ejaculation occurs immediately after intromission
• Urination
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Goats
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Doe sexual behavior
• Short day breeders
• Tale wagging
• Vocalization
• Urination
• Male effect
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Buck sexual behavior
• Kicking
• Vocalization
• Enurination
• Tail straight
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Horses
• Intact males = stallions
• Castrated males = geldings
• Post-pubertal females = mares
• Pre-pubertal females= Filly
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Mare sexual behavior
• Long day breeders
• Cycle 21-24
• Heat last 6 days
• Foal heat
Image courtesy: [Link]/[Link]
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Mare sexual behavior
• Ears back
• Urination
• Winking
• Have preference for a Stallion
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Clinical Problems of Mares
• Estrus can be split or prolonged.
• Anestrus
• Physiological
• Behavioral
• Nymphomania
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Stallion Sexual behavior
• 2-3 month
• Biting and nuzzling
• Flehmen
• Vocalizations
• Copulation last les than 45 seconds
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Clinical Problems of Stallions
• Absence of libido
• Lack of experience
• Overuse
• Used as teaser but not bred
• Improper handling
• Injury
• From mare
• Self mutilation
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Swine
• Intact males = boars
• Castrated males = barrows
• Intact, breeding females = sows
• Pre-pubertal females= gilts
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Sow: Estrous Cycle
• No seasonal breeders
•
• 21 days cycle
• 5-8 month
• Boar effect
• Olfaction and auditory stimulus
Picture courtesy: [Link]
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Sow: Sexual Behavior
• Increase activity
• Mount other females
• Sniffing boar head and genitalia
• Standing heat
• Immobile
• Ears pointing up
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Boar: Sexual Behavior
Figure courtesy: Houpt 2011, Figure 4.13
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Clinical Problems of Boars
• Inadequate nutrition
• Poor management techniques
• Previous unpleasant mating
experience
• Lack of early socialization
Photo courtesy: [Link]
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Domestic Canines
• Males = stud
• Females = bitches
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Bitch: Estrous Cycle
• Non-seasonal
• Puberty varies
• Breed
• Size
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Bitch Sexual Behavior
• Playing
• Sniffing males’ body and genitals
• Urination
• Perineum movements
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Clinical Problems of Bitches
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Dog: Sexual Behavior
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Clinical Problems of Dogs
• Impotence
• Lack of socialization
• Timidity
• Environment
• Masturbation
• Castration
• Do not affect some behavior
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Domestic Cats
• Males = toms
• Females = queens
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Queen: Estrous Cycle
• Puberty occurs between 6 and 10 months
•
• Seasonally polyestrous
• Estrus lasts 9 to 10 days.
• 3 weeks
• Induced ovulatory
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
The Queen: Sexual Behavior
Figure courtesy: Houpt 2011, Figure 4.17
Domestic Animal Behavior ANSC 3318
Tom sexual behavior
• Olfactory cue in female urine
• Calling the female
• Sniffing
• Holding the queen neck
• 10 seconds
• Lick his penis
