the course chapter describes about reproductive behavior of farm animals

1. 2. Reproductive Behaviour in farm
animals
introduction
• The scientific study of animal behavior is also called
ethology
• Behavior can be defined as an expressed course of
action produced in organisms in response to stimulus
from a given situation.
• Elements of Behavior
• - Behavior = the way an organism reacts to changes in
its internal condition or external environment
• usually performed when an animal reacts to a stimulus
• - Stimulus = any type of signal that carries information
and can be detected
• - Response = a single, specific reaction to a stimulus

2. SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
Useful in implementing breeding programs
Examples of Sexual Behavior
o Cows that are in heat, allow themselves to be mounted
by others
o Bulls, rams and stallions smell the vagina and urine to
detect pheromones
o Flehmen – Male animal lifts head and curls its upper lip
o Rams chase ewes that are coming into heat
o Sows seek out boars for mating
o Mares in heat squat and urinate when stallion
approaches and vulva winks

3. Cont…
• pheromone = a chemical that is produced by one
animal and sensed by another
1. pheromones hormones that are accepted by other
individuals; chemical signals secreted by animals
that convey information between members of a
species; very specific, immediate, but transitory
• a. releaser pheromone triggers behavior in
another organism
• b. primer pheromone cause physiological changes
in other organisms. For example: female moths
releaser pheromone to attract males
3

4. Cont…
• FEMALES ADOPT THE YOUNG OF OTHERS THROUGH
TRANSFER OF ODOR
– SMEARING THE CALF/LAMB WITH AMNIOTIC FLUID
4

5. Reproductive environment:
 This includes the mating environment and
the actual animal to be mated. Some males
prefer certain females and females may refuse
to mate with a certain male.
The mating environment must be acceptable,
and in groups of animals, a dominant male
can affect the whole reproductive behavior.
Sight, sound and smell form an important part
of the reproductive environment.


8. behavioral signs of Estrous cycle
• Normally, the oestrous cow will only be mounted from the rear by other cows,
• but she will attempt to mount her herd mates from the front, the rear or the
side.
 There are a number of supplementary behavioural signs of oestrus which in
themselves may not mean that a cow is due for insemination, but they could be
useful in drawing attention to particular animals.
 The main signs are summarized below:
 Signs that the cow has been mounted
 Dirty rump and flanks.
 Ruffled hair on the tail-head
 Sometimes patches of hair are completely removed and the skin may be raw or
bleeding.
 Streaks of saliva or signs of licking on her flanks from interested herd mates.
 Aggressiveness ,
 Bellowing, Restlessness.
 ‘Flehmen lip curl’. This may be displayed by the cow in oestrus or, more
frequently, a cow that is interested in her

9. 1. sexual behaviour of sheep
• The odour of the oestrous ewe stimulates the ram,
although it is the ewe who seeks out the ram and stays
close beside it.
• The male responds to urination of the oestrous female by
sniffing, extending the neck and curling the lip. This is
the flehmen response. The tongue goes in and out and the
male may bite the female’s wool, and raise and lower one
front leg in a stiff-legged striking motion.
• If the female is receptive she will stand for copulation.
Mating efficiency may drop if food is short and ewes
disperse into small sub-groups. In this situation the rams
may not be able to find them at the usual ratio of 4 rams
per 100 ewes.
• This is one reason that understanding flock behaviour
under various environmental conditions is so important.
9

10. 2. sexual behaviour of Goats
• The male tests the urine of the female and performs flehmen.
He then approaches the female with a slight crouch, head
slightly extended, horns back and ears forward, the tail vertical
and often with the tongue extended.
• The female either remains still as the male approaches or
begins to move away depending on her state of receptivity.
• If she is receptive the male does the ‘rush-grumble’, where he
rushes towards the female and vocalizes.
• He then nuzzles her flank, back and anogenital area with his
tongue extended.
• The female signals her willingness to copulate by standing
still with her head lowered and tail to the side(tilting).
10

11. 3.SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF CATTLE
• As the cow reaches estrus the bull becomes very excited and
follows her closely, licking and smelling her external genitalia
and often exhibiting flehmen.
• Recent work has shown that the bull uses the tongue to
transfer fluid (probably urine) to a short incisive spur located
on the dental pad. It is then transferred to the vomeronasal
organ which is considered to be the site of pheromone
identification.
• Pre-copulatory patterns include pawing the ground and
snorting, chin resting on the cow’s rump just before mounting
and then copulation.
• Copulation is short (seconds) compared with horses and pigs
(minutes).
• The female becomes hyperactive when oestrus begins and the
number of indiscriminate agonistic interactions and mounting
attempts increase. 11

12. 4.SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF HORSE
• Horses are seasonally polyoestrous. Mares show a cyclical active oestrus
(7.1 ± 4.2 days; and quiescent dioestrus (16.3 ± 2.9 days; throughout the
breeding season.
• An unreceptive mare kicks, squeals and lays back her ears if the stallion
approaches.
• Receptive mares indicate readiness for mounting by standing still,
spreading hind legs, lifting tail to one side, lowering the pelvis and
repeatedly exposing the pink tissue of the vulva (‘winking’).
• Stallions are more responsive to olfactory stimuli from conspecifics than
are mares and geldings.
• Foreplay is important and the male will smell, nibble and lick the mare and
exhibit flehmen (curling of the top lip to expose teeth).
• Following ejaculation the stallion may smell the mare’s genital area and the
ground, flehmen and urinate.
• Copulation is first achieved at about 15 months to three years, although
interest is shown by young males by pelvic oscillations and erection of the
penis, at as young as three months.
12

13. 5.SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF SWINE
• Courtship behaviour lasts only a short time when a boar is placed in
a small pen with an estrous female.
• The sow plays the critical role of meeting sexual partners as boars
show equal choice between an oestrous and an anoestrous sow.
• The male sniffs the female, noses sides, flanks and vulva, and emits
a ‘mating song’ of soft gutteral grunts (6–8 seconds). He foams at
the mouth and moves his jaw from side to side as the female poses
and bites the male’s ears gently. Androstenone within boar saliva
aids in eliciting the standing response in the sow.
• some sows are more attractive to boars than others and occasionally
a sow may avoid and refuse to stand for a specific boar.
• When the sow becomes stationary the boar mounts.
• Rearing females in isolation from males delays the standing
response of the females once they are introduced to boars.
• Pheromones in boar saliva and perpetual secretions induce oestrus in
gilts and sows (this is known as the boar effect).
• The social environment that boars have been raised in influences
their levels of sexual activity .
13

14. 6.SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF CHICKEN
• A series of displays occurs before mating, based on a stimulus-
response sequence initiated by the male.
• Male courtship displays are generally elaborate, involving
vocalizations and noises, postures, spreading of the feathers to
increase apparent size and emphasize plumage characteristics.
• Sexual behavior and dominance relationships are important in the
management of mating.
• Because the female must crouch to elicit courting behavior in the
male and this is also a submissive behavior, high-status females are
often difficult to mate.
• Although it is never done commercially, research suggests that to
overcome this, chickens may be sub-flocked and this reduces the
number of individuals each may dominate or be submissive
towards.
• When high-ranking hens are isolated from hens lower in the peck
order, they crouch more often than when in the larger flock, and
hens in the middle and lower thirds of the peck order crouched less
often.
14

15. 7.Reproductive behavior of camel
 The female camel is a seasonal polyestrous animal. The period of estrus is easily
recognizable by the animal's general restlessness, often aggressiveness in manner, and by
swelling and discharge from the vulva.
 The male camel is a seasonal breeder, the season corresponding with that of the female.
The male undergoes behavioral and hormonal changes during the rutting season.
Rutting (‘musth’ ) season characterized by:
 become so aggressive and dangerous, and cannot be handled.
 He is extremely restless.
 He blows a balloon-like flap out of the side of his mouth which is called a palatal
flap ,with roaring-gurgling sound.
 The lips are often covered with saliva.
 The rutting males readily attack each other and timid(fearful) males keep away from
the territory by more aggressive males.
The female sits down and keeps the external genitalia open thus allowing the
male to copulate. While mating both make grunting sounds.
Vomiting occasionally occurs in camels and is not necessarily a sign of disease.
Camels are nervous animals and may vomit and spit when handled.
But, vomiting occurs in an undisturbed animal, however, it should be regarded
as a symptom of disease. 15

16. 8.Reproduction behavior of dog
• Dogs reach sexual maturity and can reproduce during their first year, in
contrast to wolves at two years-of-age. Bitches have their first estrus ("heat")
at 6 to 12 months-of-age; smaller dogs tend to come into heat earlier whereas
larger dogs take longer to mature.
• Dog bitches have an estrous cycle that is non seasonal and monestrus, i.e.
there is only one estrus per estrous cycle.
• The interval between one estrus and another is, on average, seven months,
however, this may range between 4 and 12 months.
• This inter estrous period is not influenced by the photoperiod or pregnancy.
• The average duration of estrus is 9 days with spontaneous ovulation usually
about 3 days after the onset of estrus.
• Estrous behavior in the bitch is usually indicated by her standing still with the
tail held up, or to the side of the perineum, when the male sniffs the vulva and
attempts to mount. This tail position is sometimes called “flagging”. The
bitch may also turn, presenting the vulva to the male
16

17. Maternal behaviour of domestic
animals
 maternal behavior is known to be influenced
by a variety of factors including hormonal
mediation, breed, age, parity, host genetics and
general management practices
 understanding the behaviour around the time
of calving can improve the care and
management and helps to design facilities that
meet the behavioural needs of the animals

18. • In cattle, "maternal behaviour" is commonly used to describe the suite of
behaviours expressed by the dam prior and after parturition that facilitate
offspring survival and performance .
• Activation of maternal behaviour is mediated by coordinated hormonal, neural
and neuroendocrinal responses, in which hormones such as oestradiol,
progesterone, prolactin, and oxytocin play a central role.
• Furthermore, the expression of maternal behaviour is regulated by sensory
stimuli and experiential events over the female's lifetime
• Shortly before parturition, cows seek to isolate as a function of separating or
hiding from other herd members and, therefore, give birth in a calm place
• Once the calf is born, cows invest most of their time licking the calf, a
behaviour that stimulates the calf to stand, suckle, decrease heat loss and
facilitate the establishment of the mother-offspring bond).
• Moreover, it has been shown that the expression of licking behaviour reduces
the heart rate in the receiver cow suggesting a role in alleviating discomfort.

19. • older cows licked their newborn calves sooner compared with
first parity cows indicating that maternal experience is an
important factor for cows' motivation to attend to their offspring
and depends on parity number.
• Around 4 h after parturition, cows ingest the placenta and the
amniotic fluids.
• It was proposed that placentophagia would have several
functions, such as protection against predators, nutrient supply,
immunological role, and accentuation of the hypoalgesia
• The latter might be caused by the presence of the placental
opioid-enhancing factor, a molecule that potentiates the
antinociception in the dam without disrupting the maternal
behaviour

20. 1.MATERNAL–OFFSPRING BEHAVIOUR OF SHEEP
• Some ewes remain with the flock during lambing and others
seek isolation. Within seconds of birth the ewe faces the lamb
and begins vigorous licking and eating of foetal membranes.
The young must find the teat within 1–2 hours of birth, and it
seems that visual cues are very important for successful teat
location.
• Strange lambs are accepted immediately after birth and some
ewes adopt new-born lambs if they have lost one. Adoptions in
sheep flocks are more common than is generally realised and
has some consequences in genetic experiments where lambs
are identified with their mothers many hours or even days after
birth.
• From about 12 hours after birth, a strange lamb is actively
rejected. Add-on fostering is limited only by the inability to
properly match odour-familiar cues on a ewe’s own and alien
lambs. 20

21. cont…
• The management of the maternal-offspring bond is important in the
husbandry of lambing ewes.
The main objectives are:
1. To produce lambs capable of finding teats and suckling
successfully;
2. To produce ewes whose behavior facilitates suckling.
 Some circumstances delay suckling which will reduce the chances
of successful suckling. These includes:
1. Mother remains lying after birth;
2. Mother circles;
3. Mother is absent—she may be attending to one twin at the expense
of the other; and
4. The weather may be too hot or too cold.
The sheep producer can help to ensure that suckling is successful in
several ways:
1. Environmental control such as positioning of shade, shelter, food
and water;
2. Supervision of lambing; and
3. Selection of suitable breeds who make good mothers. 21

22. MATERNAL BEHAVIOR
Females taking care of newborn and young
animals
Examples of Maternal Behavior
o Mothers clean young by licking them
o Mothers fight off intruders
o Become aggressive in protecting they young
after birth

23. Classifications of Maternal behaviour
According to stage of parturition:
A.Pre-parturient behaviour
B. Parturient behaviour
C.Post-parturient behaviour

24. a. pre-parturient behaviour
.

25. Pre-parturient behaviour in mare
• Mares isolate themselves from the herd mates
• 1 month prior: mammary gland begins to enlarge
and ventral edema
• 2 days prior: udder distended, secretion changes
to colostrum
• 24 hours prior: waxing of teats
• 4 hours prior: drips milk
• udder distended
• ventral edema
• Relaxation of pelvic ligaments
• waxing of teats
• drips milk

26. b. Parturient behaviour

27. 1st stage ( preliminary stage
 Contraction of the abdominal muscle,
straining and pain
 Alternative standing and lying down
 Appearance of water sac
 It ends with rapture of the chorio-allantoic
membrane and straw colored fluid
 Accompanied by urination and defecation
 Appearance of amniotic sac

28. 2nd stage.. expulsion of the fetus
• begin with the rapture of water sac and end
with the expulsion of the fetus
3rd stage (after birth stage
• Expulsion of placenta take 30 min. to six hours.
• Eating of placenta called Placento-phagia.
 Eaten in cow and buffalo
Mares doubtful
• Expulsion of placenta

29. Post-parturient behaviour
• Mother (dam) behaviour
• Newly born behaviour
• Mother-infant bond
• Recognition
Behaviour of the dam
 Standing of dam immediately after birth
 Maternal grooming of newly born
 Maternal imprinting and recognition
 Eating placenta (placento-phagia)

30. Maternal imprinting and recognition
 Rapid, stable, irreversible learning occur shortly after birth ( immediately) within a
period called critical period or sensitive period
 The young follow its mother and the mother- young bond is formed through labeling
and recognition.
 Maternal grooming of newly born
 immediately, begins by the head, body then limbs and hind parts
 Functions of licking
1-dryness of young body.
2-removal of fetal fluid from nostril and mouth to stimulate respiratory center
3-stimulation of cut, blood, lymph circulation.
4- help to stand.
5- facilitate urination and defecation.
6- increase muscular tone.
7- labeling of young and recognition.
8- aid in the formation of maternal filial bond.
 Licking Behaviour
 Social Licking
1. Promotes maternal- offspring bond and social bond among herd members
2. Directed mainly to the head and neck of the calf •
 Maternal Licking
1. It is designed to stimulate calves to eliminate wastes (Urination and/ or
defecation(
2. Directed mainly to the perineum region of the calf

31. Eating placenta (placento-phagia
Function of Placentophagia :
 Contain hormones as estrogen, progesterone and
prolactine that important for milk yield
 defence against predators by removing the odour
 hygienic measures--- prevent micro-organism
 affect on maternal immune response as it contain
factors prevent the formation of antibodies against
fetal antigen which might impair subsequent
pregnancies.
 Recycling of nutrients (Protein and minerals(

32. Behaviour of the Newly born
• Standing behaviour
• Udder searching or Teat seeking
• Suckling behaviour

33. 2.MATERNAL-OFFSPRING BEHAVIOUR OF GOAT
• Within a few minutes after parturition(kidding) the mother
begins actively licking and grooming the kid.
• This not only cleans the kid but probably provides cues for
neonate recognition by mother. These cues are a complex
interplay of vocal, visual, olfactory and gustatory stimuli.
• The maternal–offspring bond is very individually specific and
the female aggressively rejects the suckling attempts of alien
offspring.
• Feral goats hide the neonate to prevent attack by a predator.
This is similar to cattle behavior, but the young of the sheep
are followers.
33

34. 3.MATERNAL-OFFSPRING BEHAVIOUR OF CATTLE
• Suckling behavior begins 2-5 hours after birth and the mother
must be standing.
• The calf vigorously butts the mother's udder with its head
while suckling. It has been noted that heifers which had a
difficult birth took longer to stand than cows who had already
had several calves.
• Experienced cows usually stand within one minute of the birth
of the calf.
• The mother licks the young to stimulate breathing, circulation,
urination and defecation.
• The distance maintained between the cow and calf increases
steadily with time after calving but they keep in contact by
vocalizing.
34

35. 4.MATERNAL-OFFSPRING BEHAVIOUR OF HORSE
• After birth, the mare remains lying down and if the foal moves within reach she will
nuzzle it. Once she stands up the mare nuzzles and vigorously licks the foal. This is
the start of a bond forming.
• The mare–foal bond seems to grow at the expense of the bond the mare has with her
herd affiliates. The mare stands in a suitable position so the foal will locate the teats
and suckle.
• Some mares may resist suckling and in extreme cases the foal is kicked and bitten.
The mare keeps the foal away from direct contact with herd members or intruders by
calling it to her side and often by herding it away.
• The mare keeps the foal with her for many days until it gradually begins to socialize
with other horses. However, the mare–foal relationship with nursing may continue for
up to two years.
35

36. 5.MATERNAL–OFFSPRING BEHAVIOUR SWINE
• In a paddock the sow will nest-build for up to six hours
before parturition. She hollows out a depression and lines
it with straw, grass, sticks, or other available material.
• While farrowing crates in intensive piggeries prevent much
of this nest-building behaviour, many elements are still
present and the sow will often perform similar activities to
those of pigs provided with nesting material.
• Pigs of lower social status tend to produce litters with
piglets that are lighter in weight.
• Compared to other mammals, pigs display complex nursing
and suckling behavior. Nursing is frequent, every 50–60
minutes, and the sow requires stimulation from piglets
before milk let-down.
36

37. 6.MATERNAL–OFFSPRING BEHAVIOUR OF CHICKEN
• Maternal behavior or broodiness has been selected out of
commercial laying strains so it is not important in intensive poultry
husbandry systems.
• In a broody hen with chicks, a bond is formed and the chicks learn
to respond to the maternal feeding call, distress call and to the
hen’s ‘purring’ sound as she settles down. Repeated exposure to
her, accompanied by food, guidance and protection, strengthen the
filial bond.
• Exposure to maternal calls during embryonic development may be
important for the development of post-hatch species-specific
maternal call recognition.
• Being precocial, birds are self-sufficient after hatching, but parents
serve an important protective function while also teaching the
chicks about edible and inedible foods.
• Imprinted chicks remain close to the imprinted object, which is
normally a parent, but under laboratory conditions may be a variety
of different objects.
37

38.  Mating Behaviour in the Bull
• As the onset of oestrus approaches in the female, she becomes attractive
to the bull due to olfactory stimuli that are probably pheromonal.
• The bull approaches the oestrous cow and sniffs the perineal area.
• During this process, accessory secretions may drip from the prepuce.
• Mounting may be attempted several times before the cow will stand still.
The act of copulation is very short, just a few seconds.
• The bull mounts, and the penis becomes erect, there may be a few
exploratory movements of the penis, it is then inserted into the vagina
(intromission), the ejaculatory thrust occurs, being followed immediately
by withdrawal and dismounting.