Social dominance affects the development of sexual behaviour but not semen output in yearling bucks

Goats are polygynous seasonal mammals that establish dominant-subordinate relationships, especially in bucks. The aims of this study were to: 1) compare the reproductive development of dominant and subordinate young bucks allocated in dyads, and 2) determine if their previous dominant position affect their response to grouping. Twenty-four young bucks were allocated in dyads when they were 4 mo old, and the dominance position (DP) [dominant (DB) or subordinate buck (SB)] was determined with a test of competition for food.

Source: Theriogenology - January 15, 2018 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Fernando S ánchez-Dávila, Hugo Bernal Barragán, Alejandro Sergio del Bosque-González, Rodolfo Ungerfeld Source Type: research