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The influence of social restriction during rearing on the sexual behaviour of the gilt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. H. Hemsworth ,
G. M. Cronin  and
C. Hansen
P. H. Hemsworth
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Animal Research Institute, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia
G. M. Cronin
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Animal Research Institute, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia
C. Hansen
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Animal Research Institute, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract

Four groups of 10 gilts were reared from an early age under four social conditions. The mating rate (the number of successful copulations as a proportion of oestruses) at the pubertal oestrus of gilts reared in isolation from boars was significantly lower than that of gilts reared near mature boars (P> 0·01). In addition, gilts isolated from boars during rearing had a significantly longer interval from the first mounting attempt by the boar until the display of the standing response (P<0·05) and a significantly higher proportion of these gilts were restless during copulation and terminated the copulation in comparison with gilts reared near mature boars (P<0·01). All gilts were ovariectomized after puberty or at 35 weeks of age and, following a standard oestrogen treatment, they were induced into a series of behavioural oestruses. There were no significant differences between the treatments in the mating rate at these oestruses. It is concluded that the social environment during rearing will influence the mating rate of the gilt at the pubertal oestrus.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , August 1982 , pp. 35 - 40
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1982

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References

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