Sexual behavior and ejaculate characteristics in Pêga donkeys (Equus asinus) mounting estrous horse mares (Equus caballus).
Abstract: The objectives were to (i) characterize sexual behavior of donkey stallions (jacks; Equus asinus) during on-farm semen collection using estrous horse mares (mares; Equus caballus); (ii) compare behavior of young (less experienced) versus older (more experienced) jacks; (iii) determine whether semen suitable for artificial insemination (AI) could be collected using mares; and (iv) determine the suitability of using mares in field collection of semen from jacks. Six Pêga jacks (3.5 to 16 yr old), previously conditioned to breed mares, were used. Mount mares were confirmed in estrus by a teaser horse stallion (stallion) and a jack. Semen was collected with an artificial vagina, at intervals of 48 to 72h (180 collections). The mean+/-SD (young [3.5 yr] vs. old [14 to 16 yr]) were Flehmen response frequency, 7.4+/-5.8 (8.1+/-3.0 vs. 7.0+/-2.0); number of mounts without erection, 1.1+/-1.3 (2.1+/-1.4 vs. 1.2+/-0.4, P<0.05); latency from first exposure to mare to full erection on the ejaculatory mount, 18.3+/-17.7min (25.3+/-21.3 vs. 12.2+/-6.2, P<0.05); latency from erection to insertion, 5.1+/-3.5sec (5.3+/-3.8 vs. 4.8+/-3.2); and duration of copulation from insertion to dismount after ejaculation, 25.4+/-7.8sec (22.1+/-2.9 vs. 28.1+/-9.3). In all jacks, sexual behavior was generally normal, with the notable absence of open mouth behavior. Mare estrous behavior was markedly less intense than that in the presence of a stallion and usually absent. Semen characteristics were gel free volume, 47.3+/-28.7mL; gel volume, 71.8+/-54.8mL; total motility, 84.3+/-6.0%; progressive motility, 74.3+/-74.5%; sperm vigor, 3.9+/-0.5 (scale 1 to 5); sperm concentration, 253x10(6) cells/mL; and total number of sperm, 10.3x10(9) cells. Copulation duration was significantly correlated with gel free volume (r=0.9) and gel volume (r=0.7). We concluded that (i) the sexual behavior of jacks during semen collection using mares was similar to that reported for natural mating to jennies, (ii) precopulatory and copulatory behavior for the young (less experienced) jacks and older (more experienced) jacks were generally similar (except number of mounts without erection and latency to full erection); (iii) semen obtained using mares as stimulus and mount females was similar to that reported with estrous jennies; and (iv) semen collection from previously conditioned jacks, using estrous mares, was appropriate for field collection of semen.
Publication Date: 2009-09-22 PubMed ID: 19775738DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.07.026Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article investigates the sexual behaviors, ejaculate characteristics, and potential suitability for semen collection in Pêga donkey stallions when they mount estrous horse mares. The findings suggest little difference in behavior between young and older stallions, and the semen obtained is deemed suitable for artificial insemination.
Research Objectives
- The study aimed to provide details on the sexual behavior exhibited by Pêga donkey stallions (termed jacks) when they attempt to mate with estrous horse mares.
- It had an interest in examining any behavioral differences between young and older jacks.
- There was an intention to understand whether the semen collected from these encounters was suitable for artificial insemination.
- The research was designed to assess if horse mares are a viable option for field semen collections from jacks.
Design and Methodology
- The study featured six Pêga jacks, from ages 3.5 to 16, all of which had been preconditioned to breed with horse mares.
- The mares used for mounting were confirmed to be in estrus by a teaser horse stallion and a jack.
- Semen was collected a total of 180 times using an artificial vagina over varied intervals.
- The team employed a range of measurements (including the frequency of Flehmen response, number of mounts without erection, latency from first exposure to full erection, latency from erection to insertion, and duration of copulation) to compare behaviors between the younger and older jacks and to assess the semen collected.
Results
- Overall, the researchers found the sexual behavior of the jacks to be generally normal, with mares being less intense in their estrous behavior than when a stallion was present.
- There were noted similarities in precopulatory and copulatory behaviors between young and older jacks, with slight variations seen in the number of mounts without erection and latency to full erection.
- The characteristics of the collected semen were found to be in alignment with previous data obtained from estrous jennies. Parameters assessed included volume, total motility, progressive motility, sperm vigor, sperm concentration, and the total number of sperm.
- Copulation duration was found to be significantly correlated with gel-free and gel volumes of semen, supporting the conclusion that estrous mares are suitable for the field collection of semen from preconditioned jacks.
Cite This Article
APA
Canisso IF, Carvalho GR, Morel MC, Guimarães JD, McDonnell SM.
(2009).
Sexual behavior and ejaculate characteristics in Pêga donkeys (Equus asinus) mounting estrous horse mares (Equus caballus).
Theriogenology, 73(1), 56-63.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.07.026 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equid Breeding Center, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. ifc5@cornell.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Copulation
- Equidae / physiology
- Estrus
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Penile Erection
- Semen Analysis
- Sexual Behavior, Animal
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Wen X, Bou G, He Q, Liu Q, Yi M, Ren H. Comprehensive Integrated Analyses of Proteins and Metabolites in Equine Seminal Plasma (Horses and Donkeys). Proteomes 2025 Jul 4;13(3).
- Song JL, Zhang GL. Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone: Different Mycotoxins with Different Toxic Effects in the Sertoli Cells of Equus asinus. Cells 2021 Jul 27;10(8).
- Panzani D, Quaresma M, Fanelli D, Camillo F, Moroni R, Rota A, Martins-Bessa A, Nóvoa M, Catalán J, Canisso IF, Conte G, Mirò J. Hastening Time to Ejaculation in Donkey Jacks Treated with the PGF2α Analog, Cloprostenol Sodium. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 27;10(12).
- Zhang GL, Feng YL, Song JL, Zhou XS. Zearalenone: A Mycotoxin With Different Toxic Effect in Domestic and Laboratory Animals' Granulosa Cells. Front Genet 2018;9:667.
- Saragusty J, Lemma A, Hildebrandt TB, Göritz F. Follicular size predicts success in artificial insemination with frozen-thawed sperm in donkeys. PLoS One 2017;12(5):e0175637.
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