Reproductive Behavior of Different Species of the Genus Ovis (Ovis Linnaeus, 1758) During Hybridization

Abstract BackgroundThere are several mechanisms of species isolation and species conservation, one of which is the behavior of individuals during the mating season. Inter specific hybridization is used to create new breeding forms and breeds of farm animals. The aim of this study was to look into the reproductive behavior of males of cultured sheep breeds and their wild relatives during the mating period in order to identify consistent patterns of movements, elementary motor acts, and individual reactions.ResultsIt was found that the duration of the courtship display in the European mouflon was, with a high degree of confidence, longer than in the male domestic sheep. In mouflons, it was 246.5 ± 31.85 minutes, while in rams, it was 88.46 ± 9.23 minutes (p < 0.0001). Many patterns in purebred sheep were shorter, or absent. In wild species, there is a connection between sexual activity and time of day. The highest frequency of intromission in mouflons occurred in the time interval between 6–8 a.m. and 11 p.m.–4 a.m.; in rams, the dependence of sexual activity on the time of day was not observed. During the estrus period, the relationship between females changed. If there were several individuals in the group in the state of estrus at the same time, the dominant females hindered the reproductive success of the lower-ranking sheep.ConclusionsThe present study shows that the patterns of reproductive behavior in males of different species of sheep are similar. However, it was revealed that the species differ in the length of those patterns. A high variability in the strategies of sheep reproduction was observed. For future research, it would be beneficial to focus on the features of the reproductive behavior of female sheep depending on the genotype.