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The influence of isolation from females and mating frequency on the sexual behaviour and semen quality of young post-pubertal boars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. H. Hemsworth ,
C. G. Winfield ,
C. Hansen  and
A. W. Makin
P. H. Hemsworth
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
C. G. Winfield
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
C. Hansen
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
A. W. Makin
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
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Abstract

Three treatments were imposed on three groups of four boars from 26 to 40 weeks of age: a mating frequency of six copulations per week, housed near sexually receptive gilts (M + ♂); not mated, housed near sexually receptive gilts (NM + ♂); and not mated, isolated from female pigs (NM – ♂ ). The M + ♂ boars had similar semen characteristics from 49 to 57 weeks of age to the NM + ♂ and NM – ♂ boars. However, the M + ♂ boars achieved a significantly greater number of copulations (P < 0·05) and spent significantly longer ejaculating (P < 0·05) during the mating tests conducted from 49 to 57 weeks and from 66 to 70 weeks of age than the NM – ♂ boars. It is concluded that isolating young post-pubertal boars from female pigs will reduce their subsequent copulatory performance. Further, mating at a high frequency from 26 to 40 weeks of age does not appear to seriously affect subsequent semen quality.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , August 1983 , pp. 49 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1983

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References

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