scholarly journals Temperament and reproductive performance in farmed sable

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. KORHOHEN ◽  
P. NIEMELÄ ◽  
P. SIIRILÄ

The present study sought to evaluate the relationship between temperament and reproductive success in farmed sable (Martes zibellina). Experimental material comprised altogether 58 males and 236 females. Temperament was measured by using a stick test. About 85% of matings occurred in July. Most whelpings were in April. Over 80% of young and old males were classified as curious. Number of fearful and aggressive males was small. Among females, the amount of curious animals was much lower compared to males. Every third female was fearful. Temperament did not affect length of the gestation period which averaged 268 ± 14 days. Gestation period was longer for early breeding females (r = -0.629

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. Korhonen ◽  
L. Jauhiainen ◽  
T. Rekil&auml

The present study sought to evaluate the relationship between temperament, pre-mating behaviour and reproductive performance in farmed female mink (Mustela vison). Temperament was measured by using a stick test and behavioural reactions to the presence of a human during pre-mating period by a walking test. The experimental animals comprised 100 confident and 100 fearful scanblack female mink. In each temperament group, 58% of female mink were primiparous and 42% were multiparous. The length and timing of mating periods and the length of the gestation period were similar in all groups. Pooled data showed that the length of the gestation period correlated negatively with litter size (r = -0.17, P = 0.03). The whelping proportions for confident and fearful primiparous female mink were 81% and 74% (P = 0.37), respectively, and for multiparous females 83% and 81% (P = 0.78), respectively. The number of kits per mated and whelped female at parturition (P < 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively) and at weaning (P < 0.01 and P = 0.07, respectively) was significantly higher in confident than in fearful females. A significant correlation between kit losses and litter size was found only in primiparous and multiparous confident females (r = 0.35, P = 0.02; r = 0.32, P = 0.07). Postnatal kit mortality was higher in primiparous confident females than fearful females. During walking tests, fearful animals, irrespective of age, remained in side the nest box more frequently than did confident ones. Stationary behaviour outside the cage (lying, sitting, standing, etc.) was more common in confident than in fearful animals (P < 0.001). Significant differences in locomotor activity or stereotypies were not found between the groups. In multiparous fearful females, the whelping result declined significantly with the increasing incidence of stereotypies (r = -0.37, P = 0.04). In primiparous fearful female mink, the relationship was the reverse (r = 0.37; P = 0.01). We conclude that the significant temperament dichotomy (confident vs. fearful) found in farmed mink stock has a marked effect on the reproductive performance of this species. Key words: Farm-bred mink, personality trait, temperament, reproductive performance, domestication


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Irwansyah ◽  
Junaedi ◽  
Suparman

One of the problems that exist in the community is the lack of identification of the reproductive performance of prospective brooders of Bali cattle that are artificially inseminated. The researcher conducted a research to determine the reproductive performance of Bali Cattle inseminated with Brahman Cattle Semen in SECP (Special Effort for Cows to be Pregnant Program) Program in Kolaka Regency. The parameters observed in this study were; artificial insemination's first age (Years), How many times the artificial insemination (AI) was pregnant (S/C), Length of pregnancy (months), Calving Interval (CI) (months), Birth weight (Kilograms), Correlation of AI's first age with birth weight. Sources of date used in this study are primary and secondary data. Data collection techniques carried out in this study were observation and interviews. The date obtained was analyzed descriptively, analysis of variance, average, and to calculate the relationship between variables was analyzed by correlation. Reproductive performance of Bali Cattle inseminated with Brahman Cattle Semen in SECP Program in Kolaka district include; first age AI 23.63±1.99 months, Service per Conception (S/C) 1.56±0.55, gestational age 9.03±0.38 months, Calving Interval (CI) 12.24±0 .52 months, birth weight 27.85 ± 2.96 and the correlation between AI prime age and birth spacing was 0.77.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
John McGlone ◽  
Arlene Garcia ◽  
Anoosh Rakhshandeh

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a novel 3-molecule boar pheromone (BOARBETTER®, BB,) to improve sow reproductive performance (breeding, conception, farrowing rates, pigs born alive, stillborn, mummies and total born). Data from 12 commercial farm sites were used to evaluate the effectiveness of BB. Each farm was used as the experimental unit in the meta-analyses. Individual sows records were collected, merged and analyzed in overall analyses. Relative to CON, BB increased the number of total born pigs per litter (13.81 ± 0.11 vs. 14.30 ± 0.11 pigs/litter, respectively; p < 0.01) and the number of pigs born alive (12.76 ± 0.14 vs. 13.13 ± 0.14 pigs/litter, respectively; p < 0.05). In the merged dataset analyses, the parity by treatment interaction was significant for total pigs and pigs born alive per litter (p < 0.01). In parities one through three, treatment with BB increased total pigs born by 0.88 per litter, and pigs born alive per litter by 0.73 pigs per litter (p < 0.05). However, BB had no effect on these parameters in sows from parities four through six. BOARBETTER® increased reproductive success, is cost effective, safe, and can meaningfully improve sow reproductive success and performance.


The Auk ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Sydeman ◽  
Marcel Güntert ◽  
Russell P. Balda

Abstract We studied cooperative-breeding Pygmy Nuthatches (Sitta pygmaea) for 4 yr in northern Arizona. Breeding units contained 2-5 birds. Helpers were found at about 30% of all nests. All helpers that later bred on the study area were male. Helpers were mostly yearlings, and offspring or siblings of the birds that they aided, but often aided at least one unrelated breeder. Breeding units with helpers produced significantly more young than those without helpers. Breeding units in habitats with the greatest floral diversity and structural maturity fledged significantly more young than those in other habitats. Habitat did not influence the effect of helpers. Year effects increased the strength of the relationship between helpers and annual reproductive output. Previous breeding experience and pair-bond duration were not related to reproductive success. Total brood loss, although rare, was responsible for the difference in reproductive output among pairs with and without helpers and between habitats. Breeding birds with helpers benefit by an increase in direct fitness. The advantage to the helpers is not clear but may be an increase in indirect fitness associated with aiding relatives. Helpers may benefit directly, however, by sharing roosting cavities on a group territory thereby enhancing overwinter survival.


1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Lee ◽  
KD Atkins

The lifetime reproductive performances (5 annual cycles) of 2105 Merino ewes from a multiple bloodline flock (15 separate bloodlines) were used to determine the association between reproductive performance in early life (either at 2 or 3 years of age, or the combined information from both years) and later performance. Early life fertility was indicative of both the fertility and the rearing ability of ewes in later life. The relationship of the combined weaning performance at the first and second annual reproductive cycles with reproductive performance in later life suggested gains were possible in the current flock from culling with emphasis on low fertility and rearing ability. Ewes that were dry at 2 and 3 years of age subsequently reared only half as many lambs as ewes that had reared lambs at 2 and 3 years of age.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
I. H. Kim ◽  
H. C. Lee ◽  
H. G. Kang

Earlier postpartum cyclicity based on hormonal analysis was related to the subsequent fertility, although it has not been clarified under field conditions. This field study examined the relationship between the detection of corpus luteum (CL) at the first post partum month and subsequent reproductive performance in dairy cows. Holstein dairy cows underwent ultrasonography (Sonoace 600 with 7.5 MHz linear-array transducer; Medison Co. Ltd., Korea) at 30 (±7) days postpartum to determine the existence of CL in ovaries and then divided into 2 groups based on the existence of CL; the CL group (n = 156) or the non-CL group (n = 281). At the same time of ultrasonography, all cows were scored for body condition. Cows received the normal herd reproductive management program including oestrous detection or synchronization, or synchronization of ovulation in the breeding period. Pregnancy was determined per rectum 60 days after artificial insemination by both ultrasonography and palpation. Reproductive performance data were collected for a minimum of 210 days postpartum. Reproduction data between the CL and non-CL groups were evaluated by t-test, chi-square test, or logistic regression using an SAS program (Version 9.1: SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The proportion of cows with CL in ovaries at 30 (±7) days postpartum was 35.7% of all cows. The number of days to first insemination after calving was more delayed (P < 0.0001) in the non-CL group (100.1 ± 2.7 days) than in the CL group (80.9 ± 2.9 days), while the pregnancy rate to first insemination did not differ (P > 0.05) between the CL group (44.2%) and the non-CL group (45.9%). The CL group had higher pregnancy proportions (PP) within 60 (odds ratio, OR = 2.3; P = 0.0063), 90 (OR = 1.6; P = 0.04), and 120 days (OR = 1.5; P = 0.05) postpartum than the non-CL group; however, the PP within 150 or 210 days postpartum did not differ between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Besides, logistic analysis revealed that cows with body condition score (BCS) ≥3.00 were more likely to have CL (OR = 1.8; P = 0.015) compared with cows with BCS ≤ 2.75, while primiparous cows were less likely to have CL (OR = 0.6; P = 0.0085) compared with multiparous cows. In addition, cows that underwent ultrasonography later than 30 days postpartum were more likely to have CL (OR = 1.6; P = 0.0192) compared with cows that underwent ultrasonography earlier. In conclusion, the earlier cyclicity based on the detection of CL using ultrasonography at the first postpartum month, which might be in part due to a higher BCS, predicts an enhanced reproductive performance in dairy cows, particularly during the early and early-mid lactations. This work was supported by the research grant of the Chungbuk National University in 2010.


1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1059-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G. Horn ◽  
Thomas E. Dickinson ◽  
J. Bruce Falls

The relationship between song repertoire size and measures of male quality and reproductive success was examined in a Manitoba population of western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta). Repertoire size correlated positively with the singer's wing length but not with mass or territory size. Males with larger repertoires tended to pair earlier and males with higher pairing success had larger repertoires. Repertoire size correlated positively with fledging success independently of pairing success. As suggested for other species, repertoire size might serve as a signal to females of male quality. We suggest mechanisms by which this signalling system is maintained.


1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 2072-2078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reid N. Harris

The relationship between territorial aggression and reproductive success was studied on a well-established, insular population of tree swallows. Four treatments of nest boxes that differed in interbox distances were created. Short interbox distances significantly reduced the occupancy of nest boxes both between and within years. Swallows in short interbox distance treatments defended more than one nest box, which was an additional resource not necessary for their successful reproduction. Excluded potential breeders attempted to colonize vacant boxes within another swallow's territory throughout the nestling period, but were usually prevented by the aggression of the resident pair. Aggressive activity had no direct effect on three measures of a swallow's reproductive output: percent young fledged, nestling growth, and fledgling weights. The concept of intraspecific aggressive neglect is questioned. However, by excluding potential breeders from nesting, for whatever reason, breeding tree swallows increased their relative genetic contribution to future generations.


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