A study of the mating behaviour of rams when joined at different proportions

Abstract

The behaviour of rams joined with ewes at percentages equivalent to 1.2 and 5.9 was examined. More ewes were mounted in the grqups mated with the high percentage of rams, and ewes in these groups were mounted by more of the available rams than in the groups mated to a low percentage of rams. Rams mated at a low percentage were more active, achieving about twice the number of mounts and intromissions of the rams mated at the high percentage over the periods of observation. Rams that were 2 1/2 years old mated more frequently and with more ewes than did rams that were 1 1/2 years old.