Sexual partner preference of adult rams (Ovis aries) as affected by social experiences during rearing

• Published in: Applied Animal Ethology (Netherlands) Vol. 7; no. 2
• Main Authors: Zenchak, J.J. (West Virginia Univ., Morganstown (USA). Div. of Animal and Veterinary Sciences), Anderson, G.C, Schein, M.W
• Format: Publication
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.1981

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the failure of some adult rams to mate with estrous ewes originates from a preference for rams instead of ewes. Eight rams had been reared in all-male groups and, as adults, subjected to a heterosexual mating test. During the testing, four of the animals exhibited normal levels of sexual performance while the other four showed little interest in estrous ewes (low-response rams). Within the all-male rearing environments, those rams that subsequently showed little interest in estrous ewes had engaged in significantly more sex-like behaviour with other rams than did those rams that subsequently showed normal sexual behaviour towards ewes. In the present study, the four rams that previously showed little interest in estrous ewes and the four normal rams were presented with choice situations consisting of a tethered estrous ewe and a tethered ram. The rams that showed little interest in ewes consistently preferred to direct sexual behaviour patterns toward the tethered ram, whereas the normal rams preferred to direct sexual behaviour toward the estrous ewe. Therefore, it is concluded that the failure of some adult rams to mate with estrous ewes is a consequence of their preference for rams as sexual partners.