Social isolation does not inhibit sexual behaviour and testosterone secretion in sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated bucks in contact with seasonally anoestrous goats

Figures & data

Figure 1. Plasma testosterone profiles (mean ± SEM) in sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed as a group in a pen (●) and sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed individually in pens (▲) (p >.05). Males were submitted to a treatment of artificially long days (16 h of light/8 h of darkness) from November 1 to January 15. Afterwards, males received the natural photoperiod. Interaction treatment × measure differ significantly between groups of males **(p <.001).

Figure 2. Sexual behaviour (mean ± SEM) in sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed as group in a pen (■), and sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed individually in pens (□). Male goats were rendered sexually active during the non-breeding season by exposure to 16 h of light/8 h of darkness from November 1 to January 15. Afterwards, males received the natural photoperiod. Differences between groups of males were detected *(p <.05), **(p <.0001).

Table 1. Oestrus, ovulatory and reproductive responses in anoestrous female goats in contact with sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed in a group and sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males housed individually in pens.

Groups of females in contact with males housed	(n)	Interval to first oestrus (h)	Ovulation on day 6 ( % )	Ovulation rate on day 6 (mean ± SEM)	Ovulation on day 15 ( % )	Ovulation rate on day 15 (mean ± SEM)	Oestrous behaviour in 15 days (%)	Pregnancies on day 40 (%)
In group	50	46 ± 5.0^a	76	1.2 ± 0.08	92	1.4 ± 0.07	96	62
Individually	50	70 ± 9.5^b	60	1.3 ± 0.08	88	1.3 ± 0.08	92	60

Males were exposed to a photoperiodic treatment with artificially long days, which consisted of 16 h of light and 8 h darkness per day, from November 1 to January 15, after which they were held under natural photoperiodic conditions.

^a,bValues in the same column with different superscripts differ significantly (p < .05).